46 PLUVIALIN^E. CEDICNEMUS. 



low ; tarsus reticulate with hexagonal scales ; toes three, 

 short, scutellate, with short basal webs ; claws short, arched, 

 convex, obtuse, that of the middle toe with its inner edge 

 dilated. Plumage soft, moderate, blended ; wings of mode- 

 rate length, pointed ; tail short, graduated or rounded. 



These birds are commonly named Thick-knees ; but as the 

 joint from the enlargement of which they have obtained that 

 name is not the knee, but the ankle, I cannot but consider 

 the appellation incorrect. They are very nearly allied to the 

 Plovers, in habits as well as in form, scarcely less so, I think, 

 in both, to the Bustards, and especially in having the gape- 

 line much farther extended than in the Plovers. The spe- 

 cies, which are not numerous, belong to New Holland, Asia, 

 Africa, and part of Europe. They frequent dry open pas- 

 tures and deserts, feed on insects, worms, and reptiles, run 

 with great speed, and have a strong flight. The nest is a 

 hollow in the sand or earth ; the eggs two, oval, and spot- 

 ted. The young, at first covered with down, presently ac- 

 company their parents. One species is a summer visitant 

 to some of the eastern parts of England. 



166. (EDICNEMUS CREPITANS. STONE THICK-KNEE. 



Bill shorter than the head, stout, pale-yellow at the base, 

 black at the end ; feet yellow, claws blackish-brown ; head 

 and upper parts pale reddish-yellow, streaked with umber- 

 brown, and tinged with grey ; cheeks and throat white ; neck 

 and fore part of breast light greyish-yellow, streaked with 

 brown, the rest of the lower parts white, the sides with slen- 

 der brown streaks ; anterior edge of wing cream-coloured ; 

 secondary coverts tipped with white ; quills black, the first 

 two with a white band near the middle ; tail feathers varie- 

 gated, the outer three on each side reddish-white, all tipped 

 with black except the two middle. 



Male, 17, 29, 9^, 1 T \, 3^, 1 T V, T V 



This bird is a regular summer visitant to some of the 

 eastern counties of England, especially Norfolk, Suffolk, Sus- 

 sex, and Yorkshire, arriving in the beginning of May and de- 

 parting in September. It frequents open tracts, feeds on in- 

 sects, worms, and reptiles, runs with great rapidity, is par- 

 tially nocturnal, has a rapid flight, and emits a loud shrill 

 cry. It forms no nest, but deposits on the ground, usually 

 among stones, its two eggs, which are yellowish-brown, patch- 





