394- Notes on, the Birds of the Sumlhiir Lake ^^ its mcinity. 



north to breed. I have sent three parties in three cliiFerent 

 years to obtain the eg-g's, but have never succeeded. There is a 

 great difference in the color of the birds ; some are very pale, 

 while others are very deeply colored. Mr. Hume has obtained 

 larg-e numbers of the eg-gs from the Sirsa district, where 

 C. coromandelicus is unknown. 



848.— ^gialophilus cantianus, Lath. 



Large flocks of ring plover are found about the lake edge 

 during the rains and the cold weather. A young male shot 

 10th March 1873, has the band on the forehead, the streak on 

 tlie lores and ear coverts, and the patches on the sides of the 

 breast deep black. 



849. — ^gialitis fluviatilis, Bechst. 



This species is very common all about the grass lands ad- 

 joining the lake during the cold weather. 



851.— Vanellus cristatus, Meyer. 



This species is very rare. I have seen it twice at a lake near 

 to Koochamun, and have only obtained one specimen. 



852.— Chettusia gregaria, Tail. 



Not very common ; during the cold weather it is to be met 

 with sparingly about the plains. All the specimens I have 

 are in winter plumage, and have the head brown with black spots, 

 and dusky spot tings all over the breast. 



853.— Chettusia flavipes, Savigni. 



Not common, but small parties of this species are met with 

 in the open plains duriny the cold weather. In one specimen 

 of what I take to be a young bird, some of the tail-feathers are 

 tipped with brown on their outer webs. 



855.— Lobivanellus indicus, Bodd. 



This species is very common. I have taken its eggs from 

 March till July. The nest is a small hollow in the ground, 

 without any lining ; round the edge of the nest a few small 

 stones are placed. A pair nested on the high- water level of the 

 lake near to where salt had to be stored, and I have repeatedly 

 seen the bird sitting on the eggs, although the natives were 

 passing backwards and forwards within a yard of it. The 

 youno- run about as soon as they are hatched, and when pursued 

 try to make themselves look smaller, if that were possible, by 

 squatting near a stone or piece of earth. The parents are 



