410 



THE ZOOLOGIST. 



regions. The Indian Plover, Latham, vii. 254 [Gen. Sj'n.] does 

 not exceed the size of a Lark." 



These facts, coupled with its close resemblance to a better known 

 African form, Mgialitis tricollaris, suggested to me the idea that 

 there was an error in the locality assigned to it, and that if ever 

 the species were rediscovered it would probably be found in some 

 part of Africa. 



The description of this specimen I noted as follows: — 

 " Resembling M. tricollaris (Vieillot), but rather larger ; bill 

 rather more robust, and tarsus longer, 1"3 in. instead of 1*1 in. 

 General coloration similar, but no white on the forehead. Two 

 narrow black pectoral bands. Primaries dusky, as in tricollaris. 

 Tail-feathers twelve ; the two centre ones (as in tricollaris) the 

 same colour as the back ; the outer one on each side conspicuously 



, 



a 



different ; that in tricollaris having a single dark spot, or bar, on 

 the inner web ; that in indicus (so called) having four such bars on 

 the inner web (lighter and smaller as they approach the base), 

 and a single spot on the outer web of the same feather towards 

 the extremity, as shown in the annexed cut, a and b. Base of 

 bill and legs light-coloured, but the colour not determinable with 

 certainty." 



That the specimen in the Leiden Museum had been presented 

 by Hodgson was doubtless true enough ; but the mistake as to 

 locality probably arose from assuming that, because it came from 

 Hodgson, it must have been collected by him in the country with 

 which his name has been so long and favourably associated. The 



