EGYPTIAN PLOVER. 173 



The following is from Badeker: — "This inhabitant of Egypt has 

 also been shot on the Guadalquiver,* and in other places in the 

 south of Europe. It breeds on the sandy islands of the Nile. It 

 scratches a hole in the sand or gravel, and lays four eggs therein. 

 These are very difficult to find, as the vigilant bird, when it observes 

 the approach of man, covers them over before it leaves the nest. 

 The shell is of a dull glaze-red yellow ground colour, with violet 

 grey spots and chesnut brown dots, streaks, and waves, all seen 

 apparently underneath the surface; a species of marking which, as 

 well as the size, though not in the form, brings them near the eggs 

 of Charadrius cantianus, (Kentish Plover.) In Sennaar it is often 

 seen near a crocodile, and is hence called '^ crocodile guard.' 



The Q^^ has recently been figured by Mr. Harting, (P.Z.S., 1874, 

 p. 456, pi. Ix, fig. 2,) from a specimen found on a sand-bank near 

 Damietta by Mr. J. H. Cochrane, who shot the old bird in May, 

 1862. 



The male and female have in winter the top and sides of the 

 head and cheeks, the nape, back, a band round the chest, base 

 and tips of the wing feathers, glossy black; the scapularies, wing 

 and tail coverts, and the feathers of the tail, clear slate grey; a band 

 over the eyes, going round the occiput; the throat, under wing 

 coverts, edge of pectoral black band, flanks, end of tail feathers, 

 and distal half of primaries, except the first, (which is entirely 

 black,) pure white; chest, crop, abdomen, thighs, and under tail 

 coverts, clear russet. Beak black; feet and legs green. 



The young, according to Degland, (Orn. Europ., vol. ii., p. 87,) 

 have the top of the head, top and sides of the neck, russet grey; 

 back and scapularies isabelle, with reflections of greenish purple; 

 forehead and throat dirty white; crop and top of abdomen of a vinous 

 tint, shaded with violet; under tail coverts clear fawn-colour; small 

 wing coverts like the back, the greater ones ash or whitish, having 

 a black spot and tipped with white; primaries deep black; secondaries 

 and tail feathers pure white; beak black; iris brown; legs yellow. 

 The above description is taken from two female specimens, one killed 

 in Egypt, and the other in France. 



I am indebted to Mr. E. Cavendish Taylor for the specimen from 

 which my figure has been taken. It was killed in Egypt, in January, 

 1854. The e^^ is copied from Badeker. 



* Mr. Howard Saunders says this must be a mistake. He lias been unable 

 to find any authority for the occurrence of this species in any part of Spain. 



