or little-known Limicolse. 381 



made to bring together auy thing like a complete history of 

 the bird. 



The first published description of this species is that which 

 was given by Wagler in 1827 {ut supra) under the name Clia- 

 radrius geojfroiji, which, therefore, claims priority over the many 

 others which have since been bestowed. 



In 1828, Lesson, in his 'Manuel d'Ornithologie ' {loc. cit.), 

 described, as new, a Plover which had been brought from Pon- 

 dicherry by M, Leschenault, naming it after that traveller. 

 There is no doubt, from his description, that the species to which 

 he referred was that which had been previously named by Wagler. 

 He says, — " il est de la taille du Guignard [i. e. Eudromias mo- 

 rinellus] ; mais ses jambes sont greles et plus elevees, et son 

 bee plus long et plus fort.^' Now, not only is the long and 

 remarkably stout bill one of the distinguishing characters oi jE. 

 geoffroyi, but from the fact of both Wagler and Lesson referring 

 to a specimen from Pondicherry in the Paris Museum*, it is 

 more than likely that each took his description from the same 



type. 



This explanation appears necessary, first, in order to decide 

 whose name should have priority, and, secondly, in order to show 

 that Lesson^s description does not, as some have supposed f, 

 apply to the allied but smaller species, jE. mongolicus, next to 

 be described. 



JEgialitis geoffroyi is well known to naturalists in Lidia as 

 the Larg'e Sand-Plover ; and Dr. Jerdon says that it is found all 

 over India in suitable spots, retiring northwards to breed in 

 April and May. At other seasons of the year it frequents the 

 sea-coast and the mouths of large rivers in considerable flocks. 

 Mr. Blyth obtained specimens in Calcutta in May, which were 

 in full summer dress ; and in this plumage also were the birds 

 procured by Mr. Swinhoe at Shanghai. 



In his list of the Birds of Cashmere and Ladakh (P. Z. S. 



* Lesson states that in the museum it bore the name of C. griseus, but 

 adds significantly ^' non Lath." 



t E. g. Blyth, J. A. S. B. xii. pp. 180, 181 (1843) ; Degland & Gerbe, 

 Oru. Eur. ii. p. 141 ; Jerdon, B. Ind. iii. p. 639; Adams, P. Z. S. 1859, 

 p. 138, and Beavan, Ibis, 1867, p. 332. 



