WATTLED PLOVERS OYSTER-CATCHERS. 



271 



are difficult to capture, on account of their resemblance to the surroundings 

 iu which they are hatched ; the same may be said of the eggs, which closely 

 resemble the adjacent shingle. Some of the other dotterels, such as the 

 members of the genus fohthodromitB, are handsome birds, with a chestnut 

 collar across the chest. The true dotterels (Eudromias) are mountain-breeding 

 birds, and our English species, E. morinellus, is the only one of the group 

 with any black on the belly. This, however, is not assumed as a breeding- 

 dress, as is the case with the grey and golden plovers. 



The latter birds have a spangled plumage, and don a black breast in 

 summer, passing into a white-breasted livery in winter. The grey plover 

 (Squatarola helvetica} differs from the golden plover (Charadrms pluvialis) 

 in having a hind toe. It nests on the tundra or barren grounds in the 

 Palrearctic and Nearctic regions beyond the limit of forest growth, and 

 until recently its eggs were amongst the rarest in collections. Mr. See- 

 bohm and Mr. Harvie Brown, however, have obtained them on the Lower 

 Petchora River, and Mr. Trevor-Battye and Mr. H. J. Pearson on Kolguev 

 Island. * 



Another group of the broad- winged lapwings is represented by our common 

 pewit (Vauelbis vaiie-llus), which has no wattle on the face or spur on the 

 wing, like many of the other genera of 

 the Charadriin&j such as the spur-winged 

 plovers of Africa (Hoploptcriis), which have 

 a formidable spur on the bend of the wing, 

 with which they fight. II. splnosus is said 

 to be the species which attends on the cro- 

 codile, find enters its mouth to clean the 

 teeth of the monster. Some of the other 

 genera of this group of plovers have a 

 facial wattle, but no spur on the wing, 

 while in the genus Xipliidioptcrus we 

 have two species, one Javan, and the other 

 West African, which have a large wing- 

 spur and a conspicuous facial lappet as 

 well. 



All the wattled plovers (sub-family Lolnvanellince) have the metatarsus trans- 

 versely scaled in front, but reticulated behind. They are nearly all broad- 

 winged birds like the pewits or lapwings, and most of them have spurs on 

 the wings, and wattles or lappets on the face. 



We now come to a group of the Charadriinte, where there is no swelling 

 at the end of the bill, and in this section of the plovers are the oyster- 

 catchers (Hiematopodinw) and the turnstones (Arenariince). 



All the oyster-catchers have the metatarsus reticulated both in front and 

 behind, and the angle of the lower mandible is placed very far back, the end 

 of the bill being compressed, and having a somewhat sharp 

 ridge. Twelve species of oyster-catchers are known, most of 

 them being black or black and white in plumage. They are found 



Fig. 32. THE COMMON LAPWING 

 ( Vandlus va nellus). 



in all parts of the globe, but do not extend very far north. 

 They breed on the 



The Oyster- 

 catchers. 

 Sub-family 

 ffcemctiopodince. 



shores and on the sandy beds of rivers, 

 and the nest is a little depression in the sand or moss. The 

 eggs are not unlike those of the stone-plovers or thick-knees, being of a clay- 

 brown with blackish spots or scribblings. 



Only one genus, Arenaria, represents this sub-family of plovers, which is a 



