riiAnADrjTD.E — the plovers — ox^TJCims. 147 



Ml-. II. Scchdliiu (Ibis, 1879, p. 153) first met with this species in Siberia, June 5, 

 ami sccnirert many specimens as it passed the Koo-rag-i-ka in its migrations. He 

 again met with it on the open tundra, beyond the limit of forest-growth, in hit. G9° 

 30'. The nest was a mere hollow in the ground, lined with broken stalks of reindeer- 

 moss. The eggs, four in nnndier, averaged 1.90 by 1.32. These were taken July 13, 

 and were very much incubated. 



Mr. Seebohm shows that Mr. Swinhoe probably erred in stating that this Plover 

 breeds in Formosa, and that he mistook the eggs of jEgialitis Geojfroyi for those 

 of this species. 



Genus OXYECHUS, IIkkiienbach. 

 Oxijeekus, Reichenb., Av. Syst. 1»;")3, Iiitrod. p. .xviii (tyjie, Charadrius vocifermt, Linn.). 



Chau. Bill small, slender, about e(^ual to the middle toe (without nail) ; tarsus nearly twice as 

 long as middle toe ; tail long (about two thirds as long as the wings), reaching half its leu"th 

 beyond the ends of the primaries, gradmxted, the lateral feathers about ,75 shorter than the middle 

 pair ; rump different in color from the back. 



The single Xorth American species of this genus dift'ers conspicuously from tlie Plovers usually 

 included together under j-]'Jiii(dilin, in llie broad, lengthened tail, and, so far as coloration is con- 

 ccined, in the ochraceous runiji and the pair of black bands across the breast, ft may be remarked, 

 however, that coloration alone is oi' slight importance as a character in this group. 



0. vod/erus. 



Two Old Wcirld species appear to belong here rather than with the true jEgialitis, namely, 

 nmradrius tricoUaris, ^'ieill., of South Africa, and Hi. nigrifroiis, Cuvier, of Australia. The 

 former is much hke a miniature Kildeer Plover, having two black pectoral bands, like 0. 

 vociferus (though their relative width is reversed, the posterior one being the broader) ; the pro- 

 portions and details of form are quite the same, but the rump and upper tail-coverts are concolor 

 with the back. The Australian species agrees es.seiitially with the above in size and proportions, 

 but has broader and acuminate rectrices, and the tail is more nearly even, while the plumage is 

 handsomer and more varied than in any other species of the group ; the scajmlar region being 

 adorned with a patch of rich maroon chestnut, the upper tail-coverts rufous chestnut, etc. 



