PLOVERS. 53 



Wattled Lapwing (Sarciophorus tectus) (555). In the Black-thighed 

 (Xiphidiopterus cucullatus] (542) and Latham's Wattled Lapwing 

 (Lobivanellus lobatus) (548), both wattles and spurs to the wings are 

 found ; while others, such as the Cayenne Lapwing (Belonopterus cayen- 

 ncnsis) (554) and the Egyptian Spur-winged Lapwing (Hoplopterus 

 spinosus) (543), have spurs only. The latter species is believed by some 

 to be the " Crocodile-Bird " of the earlier writers, and is said to enter the 

 mouths of Crocodiles to feed on the parasites attached to the gums. 

 The Sociable Plover (Chatusia gregaria) (552), which ranges from 

 South-eastern. Europe and North-east Africa to Central Asia and India, 

 is interesting to British ornithologists as having been captured three 

 times in Lancashire. 



The Avocets and Stilts (HimantopodintB] (557-562), which complete [ Case 28 -l 

 the series in this Case, are singularly interesting types, the former 

 especially so on account of the form of the bill, which is upturned and 

 drawn out into an extremely fine point. The common Avocet 

 (Recurvirostra avocetta] (561) at one time bred in considerable numbers 

 in the fen-country in the east of England, but now occurs only as a * 

 visitor on migration. The Banded Avocet (Cladorhynchus leucocephalus) 

 (560) of Australia, a remarkably handsome bird, represents an inter- 

 mediate form with the bill but slightly curved upwards and the 

 feet partially webbed. The Stilts have remarkably long legs and 

 a straight slender bill and obtain their food by wading. The Black- 

 winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus) (557) has visited Britain on many 

 occasions, and is widely distributed over Europe, Africa, and Asia. 



Family V. CURSORIID.E. COURSERS. 



This small group of Plover-like birds inhabits Africa and ranges [Case 29. 

 through Southern Asia to India and Ceylon. One species, the Cream- 

 coloured Courser (Cursorius gallicus) (564), breeds in the Canary 

 Islands and occasionally wanders to England. It frequents dry sandy 

 plains and deserts, running with extraordinary speed and rarely taking 

 wing, though at times its flight is protracted. Insects such as grass- 

 hoppers form its principal food, and its eggs, two in number, are deposited 

 on the bare ground, which they closely resemble in colour. An allied 

 genus is represented by the Two-banded Courser (Rhinoptilus bicinctus) 

 (565). One of the most interesting species is the Black-headed Plover 

 (Pluvianus aegyptius} (563), also known as the "Crocodile-Bird." 

 Like the Egyptian Spur-winged Lapwing it is said to enter the mouths 

 of Crocodiles in search of leeches and other parasites which adhere 

 to the great reptile's gums. 



