ESACIN^E. 337 



broad oval in shape, very slightly pointed towards one end, and 

 the ground color varies from an earthy-drab color to a pale 

 olive-brown. The markings consist of blotches, streaks, lines, 

 spots, &c., of various shades of olive and umber-brown, in some 

 becoming almost black. 



They measure 215 inches in length by about 1'6 in breadth. 



GENUS, (Edicnemus, Cuv. 



Bill vsry stout, thick, straight, compressed ; culmen raised, the 

 tip inflated both above and below ; lower mandible with a 

 strongly marked angular gonys ; nostrils long, median, in a groove 

 about half the length of the bill ; wings moderately long, second 

 quill longest ; tail of twelve feathers, somewhat lengthened, 

 much rounded ; tarsus long, reticulated ; three toes only, united 

 at the base by a short membrane ; nail of the middle-toe dilated, 

 trenchant, hollowed out beneath. 



(Edicnemus scolopax, S. G. Gm. 



859. (E. crepitans, Tern. Jerdon's Birds of India, Vol. II, p. 

 654 ; Butler, Guzerat ; Stray Feathers, Vol. IX, p. 427 ; Murray's 

 Vertebrate Zoology of Sind, p. 232 ; Swinhoe and Barnes, 

 Central India; Ibis, 1885, p. 133. 



THE STONE PLOVER. 



Length, 16 to 17 ; wing, 9 ; tail, 4*5 ; tarsus, 3 - 4 ; bill at 

 front, 1*5. 



Bill yellow, black at tip ; irides and orbits yellow ; legs and 

 feet yellow. 



Upper parts reddish-ashy with a longitudinal dusky stripe 

 down the middle of each feather ; a pale bar on the wing formed 

 by the tips of the coverts ; quills black, the first with a large and 

 conspicuous white spot near the middle, the second with one 

 somewhat smaller ; tail with all the feathers, except the central 

 ones, tipped with black ; lores, cheeks, throat, belly, and thigh- 

 coverts, white ; the neck and breast tinged with reddish-earthy, 

 and marked with fine longitudinal streaks ; under tail-coverts 

 reddish-ashy. 



The Stone Plover is not uncommon in suitable localities through- 

 out our limits ; it is a permanent resident, breeding from February 

 to June, but the majority lay in April. The nest is a mere hollow 

 scraped out by the birds, unlined, or with at most a few blades of 

 grass or dead leaves. The eggs, two in number, occasionally three, 

 are broadish oval in shape, the ground color, varying from 

 yellowish-white to pale buffy-brown, and the markings from olive to 

 blackish-brown, and consists of spots, specks, streaks, blotches, and 

 clouds, thickly or thinly spread over the whole surface. 



They measure T9 inches in length by 1'39 in breadth. 



FAMILY, Hsematopodidse, Bonap. 



Feet with three toes, and with a small hind-toe raised above 



22 



