CHARADRIAD^E. 299 



569. Charadrius Leschenaultii, Lesson; c. 



Fuscus, Cuvier ; C. Rufinus, Blyth, Journal As. 

 Soc., Beng. XII, p. 180 ; G. Subrufinus, Hodg. 



GENERAL colour above, greyish-brown, each feather slightly 

 margined with pale-rufous ; a white line springs from the 

 nostril and passes over the eye, but does not extend to the 

 back of the head ; throat, and all under parts, white ; loral 

 space, greyish-brown, as are also patches on each side of the 

 lower part of the neck, which nearly meet across the chest, 

 and form a collar; tail-feathers all brown, the outer pair 

 almost white ; under sid of wings, white ; upper side of 

 quill leathers, very dai k-brown ; bill robust, black, thickened 

 towards the point, flesh-coloured at the base ; legs (appa- 

 rently) flesh-coloured. Length, 8"; wing, 5" 9'"; tail, 2" 9'"; 

 tarsus, 1" 6'" ; middle toe, 11'". 



I shot a single specimen (Q ) of this plover on the Salt Kiver, near 

 Cape Town, in 1858, since which time no other specimen has occurred 

 to me. On comparing it with Indian specimens received from my 

 friend, Mr.' Blyth, the Curator of the Asiatic Society's Museum in 

 Calcutta, not the slightest differences can be observed. My bird was 

 accidentally killed from a flock ofs and-pipers ( Charadriadw et Trinffce) 

 feeding in the marsh. On dissection it proved a 9 ; its stomach con- 

 tained minute crustaceans, worms, and the insects found in these 

 brackish waters. 



570. Charadrius Asiaticus et Caspius, Pallas ; 



C. Jugularis, Wagler. ; G. Gigas, Brehm (juv.) ; (J. 

 Montanus, Townsend ; (7. Veredus, Gould (juv.) ; 

 Morinellus Caspius, Bp. 



ABOVE, greenish-brown, the edges of the feathers buff; fore- 

 head, before the eye, chin, and throat, white ; chest, deep 

 buff- coloured, followed by a black band ; all the rest of the 

 under parts white ; tail-feathers tipped with pale-buff. 

 Length, 9" ; wing, 5" 9'" ; tail, 2J". 



Mr. Arnot, who forwarded the only three specimens that have 

 reached me, writes : " Found together in flocks of 15 or 20, very far 

 away from water. They are scarce, and I only see them after showers 

 of rain, which bring out small coleoptera and animal life of that 

 sort, on which these birds seem to feed, and get enormously fat." 

 Procured near Colesberg. 



The Sub-Family, ELaBMATOPODIN^, or Oyster- 

 Catchers, 



have the bill lengthened, strong, with the apical half much 

 compressed to the tip, which is obtuse ; the nostrils linear, 

 and placed in a membranous, lateral groove ; the wings long 



