JF.GIALITI8. 239 



Ochthodromus mongolus & 0. pyrrhothorax, Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xxiv, 

 pp. 223, 220. 



Similar to JE. geojfroyi in both summer and winter plumage, but 

 smaller, with a much shorter bill. As a rule, in the present species 

 the upper surface in winter is darker ; in the breeding-plumage 

 the black band is broader over the ear-coverts, but there is some 

 variation ; the upper plumage appears to want the tinge of rufous 

 so conspicuous in ^E. geoffroyi. By several naturalists this Sand- 

 Plover is divided into two species or subspecies an Eastern race 

 (sE. mongolica), with the pectoral gorget chestnut and bordered 

 anteriorly by black specks forming an imperfect baud, and with a 

 broad white frontal band only interrupted in the middle ; and 

 a Western race (^. pyrrhoihorax), which visits India, and has the 

 pectoral gorget duller red, and but little white, at times perhaps 

 none, in the broad black frontal band. The differences appear to 

 me not more than subspecific, and I am doubtful whether they are 

 constant; whilst the two forms are quite undistinguishable in 

 winter garb. 



Soft parts as in JE. geoffroyi. 



Length 7*5 ; tail 2 ; wing 5 ; tarsus 1-2 ; bill from gape '75. 



Distribution. The Lesser Sand- Plover passes the summer in 

 Central and ]N"orthern Asia, Japan, and Alaska, and has been 

 found breeding in the Upper Indus valley ; in winter it visits the 

 shores of the Indian Ocean from Africa to Queensland. It is 

 common on the Indian coasts from September to May, often 

 consorting with geoffroyi* which is rarer. The present species 

 is more often found inland, especially at times of migration. 

 Before leaving in May, most of the birds assume the nuptial 

 livery. A few individuals, both of this and of the last species, 

 remain in India throughout the year, but do not breed so far as 

 is known. Hume, however, received skins, apparently of nestlings, 

 shot in the Andamans in May, July, and September. 



Habits, $c. Similar to those of JE. geoffroyi. This bird has been 

 found breeding around the Tso-Morari and other Tibetan lakes. 

 The eggs resemble those of other Plovers in colour and shape. 



1444. .ZEgialitis asiatica. The Caspian Sand-Plover. 



Charadrius asiaticus, Fall. Reis. Russ. Reichs, ii, p. 715 (1773) ; 



Seebohm, Charadr. p. 144. 



Eudromias asiaticus, Harting, Ibis, 1870, p. 202, pi. v. 

 ,/Egialitis asiatica, Hume, S. F. vii, p. 438 ; id. Cat. no. 845 quat. ; 



id. S. F. ix, p. 79 ; Barnes, Birds Bom. p. 329. 

 Ochthodromus asiaticus, Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xxiv, p. 230. 



Coloration. In winter plumage the upper parts are brown ; 

 forehead, supercilia, lores, checks, chin, and throat buffy white ; 

 area behind eye and ear-coverts light brown ; primary-coverts, 

 primaries, and secondaries blackish brown, a little white on the 

 outer webs of a few inner primaries near the base ; shafts of 1st 

 primary and of subterminal portion of 2nd white, of the 3rd dark 



