THE WORLD'S BIRDS. 17 



CRAB-PLOVER (Dromadidce). 



DIAGNOSIS. A pied plover-like bird, with crow-like 



bill and half-webbed feet. 



SIZE. About that of a crow, but higher on the legs. 

 FORM. Bill straight, stout, of medium length, corner 



of mouth reaching half-way to eye ; feet with long 



shanks, three front toes webbed half-way from 



base, hind-toe fairly developed, touching the 



ground at tip. Head large, neck medium ; wings 



medium and pointed ; tail short. 

 PLUMAGE. Pied black and white, the latter colour 



predominating ; sexes alike, young distinguished 



by grey backs and streaked heads. 

 YOUNG. Active ; they are covered with greyish down, 



and are believed to stay in their holes all day, 



and come to feed at night. 

 NEST. A burrow dug in the sand of the seashore, 



curving up towards the end. 

 EGGS. One, white in colour, and very large for the 



size of the bird (about two and a half inches). 

 FOOD. Small shore-animals, especially crabs ; large 



ones are broken up by the bird. 

 GAIT. A walk or run like other plovers ; it often 



wades. 

 FLIGHT. As in most plovers, by rapid beats of the 



wing. 



NOTE. A low and rather musical call. 

 HABITS. Haunts the seashore and salt lakes, usually 



in flocks. 

 CAPTIVITY. This bird has never been kept in captivity, 



so far as I know. 

 DISTRIBUTION. The single known species (Dromas 



ardeola) inhabits the shores of the Eastern seas 



from Aden to the Andamans. 



