THE GREATER SAND-PLOVER. 367 



white ; the whole upper plumage and wing-coverts cinereous brown, all the 

 feathers obsoletely edged paler; the greater wing-coverts broadly tipped 

 with white ; the longer upper tuil-coverts more or less whitish ; lores, a 

 broad patch under the eye and the ear-coverts like the back ; a more or 

 less distinct band of ashy brown across the breast, sometimes absent ; quills 

 brown, the shaft of the first primary white, those of the others with a 

 portion white ; the last three or four primaries with a central patch of 

 white on the outer webs ; secondaries tipped with white ; outer pair of tail- 

 feathers nearly entirely white, the next pair more or less albescent with a 

 brown patch near the tip, the others brown tipped with white. 



In summer the forehead is white, bounded on the front part of the crown 

 by a transverse black band ; the upper plumage sandy brown ; lores, a patch 

 under and in front of the eye, and the whole of the ear-coverts black ; 

 breast rufous, extending on to the flanks ; other parts as in winter. 



Iris brown ; bill black, yellowish at the gape beneath ; tibia and feet 

 slate-bluish or plumbeous, paling to yellowish olive or, in some, fleshy grey. 

 (Legge.) 



Length 8'5 inches, tail 2*3, wing 5*4, tarsus 1*5, bill from gape 1*1, 

 swollen portion of upper mandible *45. 



The Greater Sand-Plover is a winter visitor to Burmah, occurring more 

 or less on the sea-shore or its immediate vicinity. Dr. Armstrong observed 

 it near Elephant Point and at Amherst, and Mr. Hume's collectors got it 

 at Thatone and at the mouth of the Bassein river. It will probably be 

 found along the whole sea-coast, for Mr. Shopland sent it to me from 

 Arrakan. 



It inhabits the shores of nearly the whole of Asia, extending to Australia 

 and the islands of the Pacific Ocean ; and it is found along the shores of 

 Africa down to the Cape of Good Hope, straggling at times into Europe. 



This Plover and the others of the genus have much the same habits in 

 common. They occur in flocks on mud-banks and shingle, running about 

 with great speed after insects and small crustaceans. They are usually 

 shy and not easily approached. They lay three or four eggs, depositing 

 them on the bare ground in a small depression, and their colour is buff 

 marked with purple and blackish. The present species will not of course 

 be found breeding in Burmah, as it is merely a winter migrant. 



