490 CHARADRIID.E. 



red ; wing-primaries greyish black, with pure white shafts ; 

 tertials nearly black, tipped and spotted with red ; the 

 back white ; rump with a transverse band of black ; upper 

 tail-coverts and the base of the tail-feathers white; the 

 other part greyish black ; all, except the two middle ones, 

 tipped with white ; chin white ; sides of the neck, the 

 throat, and upper part of the breast, rich black ; lower 

 part of the breast, belly, vent, under tail-coverts, under 

 surface of the wing, and the axillary plume, pure white ; 

 legs and toes rich orange red, approaching vermilion red ; 

 claws black ; the hind toe articulated on the inner surface 

 of the tarsus, and directed inwards towards the other leg, 

 not backwards as in most other birds. 



The whole length of the bird nine inches and a half. 

 From the carpal joint to the end of the wing six inches ; 

 the first quill-feather a little longer than the second, and 

 the longest in the wing. 



The sexes do not differ much in plumage ; but in winter 

 the black, white, and ferruginous portions of the plumage 

 are not so rich in colour. 



In young birds of the year the whole of the plumage of 

 the upper surface of the body, and round the throat in 

 front, is dull brownish black ; the feathers of the body 

 edged with yellowish white ; those of the wing-coverts and 

 tertials edged with reddish buff-colour; the chin, breast, 

 belly, and under tail-coverts, white ; the legs and toes pale 

 orange, almost flesh colour. 



