352 CHARADRIID.E 



HOPLOPTERUS 



gonal, but hardly forming transverse scutes ; no hind toe ; a basal 

 web between the middle and outer toe. 



Out of three species spread over South-east Europe, Africa and 

 Southern Asia, one only is found within our limits. 



719. Hoplopterus armatus. Blacksmith Plover. 



Charadrius armatus, Burchell, Travels i, p. 501 (1822). 



Charadrius speciosus, Wagl, Isis, 1829, p. 649. 



Pluvianus armatus, Jard. and Selby, III. Orn. i, pi. 54 (1838). 



Hoplopterus armatus, Gimiey, Ibis, 1865, p. 271 [Durban]; Layard, 

 B. S. Afr. p. 293 (1867) ; Gurney, Ibis, 1868, pp. 255, 468 [Potchef- 

 strooin]; Ayres, Ibis, 1869, p. 299; Buckley, Ibis, 1874, p. 387; 

 Barratt, Ibis, 1876, pp. 191, 212; Bryden, Nat. and Sport, pp. 55, 

 101 (1897). 



Hoplopterus speciosus, Gurney, in Andcrssoris B. Damaral. p. 267 

 (1872) ; Gates, Matabclcland, p. 325 (1881) ; Shelley, Ibis, 1882, p. 363 

 [Gt. Chine Pan] ; Holub frPelz., Orn. Siid-Afr. p. 239 (1882) ; Sliarpc, 

 ed. Layard's B. S. Afr. p. 667 (1884) ; Fleck, Jonrn. Ornith. 1894, p. 

 382; Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xxiv, p. 161 (1896); Shelley, B. Afr. \, 

 p. 188 (1896); Woodivard Bros., Natal B. p. 184 (1899); Alexander, 

 Ibis, 1900, p 452 ; Eeichenow, Vog. Afr. i, p. 188 (1900) ; Oates, Cat. 

 B. Eggs, ii, pp. 13, 345 (1902). 



Vanellus speciosus, Scebohm, Geogr. Distr. Charadr. p. 221 with fig. 

 (1888) ; Randall, Ibis, 1896, p. 176. 



" Setula tsipi " (Iron-hammer or Blacksmith) of the Bechuanas 

 (Andersson). 



Description. Adult Male. Forehead and crown, a large patch 

 forming a collar on the base of the neck, upper and under tail- 

 coverts, under wing- coverts, sides of the body and abdomen white ; 

 hinder half of crown, sides of the face, ear-coverts, chin, throat 

 and breast, mantle and parapteral plumes black ; upper scapulars, 

 w4ng-coverts and inner secondaries lavender-grey, primary coverts 

 and wing-quills black, the inner secondaries with a good deal of 

 white on their inner webs, which increases in extent towards the 

 innermost ; tail-feathers white on the basal, black on the terminal 

 half ; the outer feathers with less black, and a white tip. 



Iris bright carmine ; bill, legs and feet black ; a short, black 

 carpal spur, measuring about 0'35 ; no hind toe. 



Length about 12*0 ; wing 8*3 ; tail 3-5 ; culmen 1-15 ; tarsus 3-1. 

 The sexes are alike. 



Distribution. The Blacksmith Plover was first discovered and 

 described by Burchell, who obtained his example at Klaarwater or 



