CIIARADRIUS. 233 



1438. Chettusia leucura. The White-tailed Lapwing. 



Charadrius leiicurus, Licht. in Eversman's Reise v. Orenb. nach 



Buchara. p. 137 (182.3). 

 Vaneilus vi'llotaei, Kav. Descr. Eyypte, pi. vi, tig. 2 ; Audown, Expl. 



Som. p. 21)7 (1826). 



Vanellus fiavipes, Less. Traite, p. 542 (1831). 

 Vaneilus leucurus, Blyth, J. A. S. B. xiii, p. 387 ; Seebohm, Charadr. 



p. 213. 



Lobivanellus leucuru?, Blyth, Cat. p. 261. 

 Chettusia leucura, Jerdon, B. I. ii'i, p. 646 ; Swinhoc, /&>, 1882, 



p. 120 ; St. John, Ibis, 1889, p. 17(5. 

 Chettuda flavipes, Hume, S. F. i, p. 232 ; Adam, ibid. p. 394 ; 



Butler, S. F. iv, p. 13 ; v, p. 232. 

 Chettusia villotaei, Blanf. East. Pers. ii, p. 280 ; Hume, Cat. 



no. 853 ; Reid, S. F. x, p. 65 ; Davidson, ibid. p. 319 ; Swinh. 



# /jW/^*, ZAw, 1885, p. 132 ; #mes, Birds Bom. p. 333. 

 Eurypterus leuciirus, Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xxiv. p. 171. 



Coloration. Head and upper parts brown, with a pink gloss on 

 the back and wings ; fort- head and lores whitish ; sides of head 

 and neck slightly paler than crown ; a black bar across the median 

 coverts and inner greater coverts, the tips of the barred coverts 

 whire ; outer greater secondary coverts and secondary quills white ; 

 the outer secondaries with large black spots at the end ; primaries 

 and primary coverts black, both white towards the base : sides of 

 back, upper tail-coverts, and tail white ; chin and throat white ; 

 fore neck brown, passing into ashy grey on the breast ; abdomen 

 rosy buff ; vent, under tail-coverts, axillaries, and wing-lining 

 white. 



In young birds the pink gloss on the back is wanting, and the 

 tail-feathers have brownish tips. 



Bill black ; irides brownish red ; legs pale yellow (Jerdon). 



Length of female 1 1 ; tail 3 ; wing 7 ; tarsus 3 ; bill from 

 gape 1-4. 



Distribution. This Lapwing breeds in Persia and Turkestan, and 

 visits N.E. Africa on one hand, and Northern India on the other, 

 in winter. It is common in suitable parts of the Punjab, Upper 

 Sind, and Eajputana, and ranges throughout Northern India, 

 having been recorded from Calcutta, Sikhim, and Khandesh. 



Habits, Jj-c. The White-tailed Lapwing occurs in small flocks or 

 singly near swamps and tanks. 



Genus CHARADRIUS, Linn., 1766. 



Bill slender and rather short, the dertrnm slightly swollen and 

 rounded ; nostril linear, in a groove that extends about two-thirds 

 the length of the bill. "Wings pointed, 1st quill longest; second^- 

 aries short ; tertiaries lengthened and pointed. Tail moderate, 

 rounded. Tarsi reticulated throughout with hexagonal scales ; 

 no hind toe ; outer and middle toes connected by a short web at 



