95 



Plover, I will now proceed to describe these specimens ; the first, that of an 

 adult male, probably in its second year — bill black, longer than the head, 

 pointed, curved to the right or off side, curled slightly in itself in a leaf-like 

 manner, a long groove on each side of the upper mandible, the nostrils long, 

 pierced not far from the base of the bill, fitted with a membranous process, 

 which, apparently furnished with a system of nerves, extends some distance 

 along the mandible ; interior of both upper and lower mandible concave or 

 silicate, which form is maintained to the point ; thus, the inside of the bill, 

 Avhen the mandibles are closed, becomes a curved pipe, with a veiy slight 

 twist ; the sharp edges of each mandible are horny and semi-transparent ; 

 from the base of the bill the upper mandible is flattened on the top for a 

 distance of about 6 lines, it then assumes a raised and slightly rounded form, 

 till it gradually sweeps down into the point ; forehead, chin, and the whole of 

 the under parts white, with a broad ii-regular band of blackish feathers 

 stretching across the breast, widest on the left or near side ; above the bill, 

 from eye to eye, runs a narrow strip of very pale brownish colour ; crown of 

 the head and upper surface of the body ash grey ; wings long and pointed ; 

 primaries dark brown, outer narrow vane of each primaiy darkest ; shaft of 

 feathers distinctly white ; first feather longest ; tail moderate, ash giey, middle 

 feathers inclined to brown ; legs gartered, or naked just above the tarsal 

 joints ; legs and feet a peculiar tint of black-green with a grey shade ; toes 

 three to the front and none behind, united at the base by a membrane 

 extending to the first joint, bottom of toes greenish brown, middle toe and nail 

 longest, nails short and black. Bill measures 1 inch 2 lines; wing 4 inches 

 9 lines ; tarsus 1 inch 2 lines ; middle toe with nail 1 1 lines ; total length 

 8 inches 5^ lines. 



The chick above mentioned is covered with freckled grey down ; under 

 surface silky white ; wings pale brownish ; the deflection of the bill easily 

 distinguishable. Bill measures 6 lines ; tarsus 1 lines ; middle toe with nail 

 8 lines ; total length 2 inches 8 lines. 



Birds of the year do not assume the black band ; females differ little from 

 the males in size, the band is not so conspicuous, as it is much narrower than 

 in the male ; fine old males have the breast band broad, and that on the fore- 

 head dark brown. I have never seen this bird assemble in large flocks like 

 C. bicinctus. 



The peculiar formation of the bill has apparently induced naturalists to 

 exhibit considerable doubt as to the proper position of this, perhaps, unique 

 species. Without referring to all the notices of this bird which have appeared 

 at different times, it may be mentioned that at least one eminent ornithologist 

 considered the bill to be an accidental deformity ; again, it has in some way 

 been confused with C. bicinctus, from which it differs materially, in habits as 

 well as structure. 



