— 91 — 



Length about 12 inches. Sexes ahke. Crown, nape, and 

 throat black, remainder of head and neck white ; upper parts 

 hght brown ; wings bhick with a white bar cicross the secondaries ; 

 upper and under tail coverts white ; tail black with a white 

 base ; breast and sides of the abdomen black ; rest of under 

 parts white ; a sharp black thorn-like spur on the carpal joint 

 of the wing ; bill and legs black ; iris crimson. 



367. Lapwing. Vanellus vmiellus (Linnaeus). Plate 30, fig. 23. 



Vanellus cristatus. Shelley, pp. 231-232. 



Numerous throughout Egypt in suitable localities during 

 the winter months. 



Length about 12| inches. Crown of head greenish black, 

 as is also the long crest ; upper parts metallic green with purple 

 reflections and slightly marked with buff ; tail white with a 

 broad band of black ; chin and upper throat white (black in 

 summer) ; a broad black band across the breast ; abdomen 

 white ; under tail coverts pale chestnut. The female and young 

 birds have shorter crests, and the latter are more freely spangled 

 with dull gold markings. 



368. Sociable Plover. Vanellus gregarius (Pallas). 



Chettusia gregaria. Shelley, p. 233. 

 A spring and autumn visitor, and though a few remain 

 sometimes throughout the summer I have no records of its 

 breeding in the country. 



Length about 14 inches. Forehead, a broad streak above 

 the eye, passing round the nape, chin, upper throat, lower 

 flanks, under wing surface, rump and under tail coverts, thighs, 

 secondaries, larger wing coverts, sides of rump and outer rectrices 

 white ; crown, lores, a narrow streak behind the eye, primaries, 

 and outer primary coverts jet black ; upper parts biownish 

 ashy grey ; tail white with a broad subterminal black band ; 

 neck and breast ashy grey ; abdomen black, but posteriorly 

 rich chestnut red (Dresser). Sexes similar. Young birds lack 

 the black and chestnut, are mottled with black on the head 

 and breast, and the rest of upper and under parts are brownish 

 grey. 



369. White-tailed Plover. Chettusia leucura (Lichtenstein). 



Chcetusia villotcBi. Shelley, p. 233. 

 This plover is undoubtedly far less abundant at the present 

 time than it was when Shelley was collecting in Egypt. During 



