239 



BROWN-BACKED PLOVER. 



Vanellus inornatus, SWAINS. 



Above dark-brown ; the front with a white spot ; rump, throat, 

 and breast, sooty black ; chin, under part of the body, and 

 the tail, white ; the latter slightly forked, and with a broad 

 black terminal bar. 



ALTHOUGH we have some suspicion that this may be 

 a young bird, not arrived at its full plumage, we yet 

 are unacquainted with any species with which it 

 might be so arranged. On the other hand, there is 

 no admixture of differently coloured feathers in any 

 part of the plumage, and all the tints are fully and 

 well marked. Only one specimen, belonging to 

 Mr. Warwick, has yet fallen under our inspection, 

 and of which the following is the description. 



In regard to general structure it agrees with the 

 last species, but there is only a small horny tu- 

 bercle on the carpus of the wing, and the inner 

 lateral toe is only very slightly shorter than the 

 outer, so much so, that at first they appear to be of 

 almost equal length ; the claws are unusually short, 

 thick at their base, and well curved. 



Commencing with the upper plumage, there is a 

 conspicuous and well defined spot of pure white in 

 front of the head ; all the rest of the upper parts, 

 that is to say, the head, neck, back, scapuluars, 



