(EDICNEMUS. 77 



(Half natural size.) 



CEDICNEMUS CREPITANS INDICUS. 



INDIAN STONE-CURLEW. 

 CEdicnemtts crepitans alis brevioribus, et primariis magis albo notatis. j^- 



The Indian Stone-Curlew and the European Stone-Curlew are connected together by a Y^riati ns 

 series of intermediate forms. 



(Edicnemus indicus, Salvadori, Atti Soc. Ital. Sc. Nat. viii. pt. iv. p. 375 (1865). Synonymy. 



Plates. — Unfigured. Literature. 



Habits. — Legge, Birds of Ceylorij p. 969. 



Eggs. — Hume, Nests and Eggs of Indian Birds, p. 581. Average size much less than those of 

 the European form. 



The resident Stone-Curlews of India and Ceylon may fairly be regarded as sub- 

 specifically distinct from their European allies. In consequence of their migratory habits, 

 the latter birds have acquired longer wings, and are larger birds altogether. European 

 Stone-Curlews vary in length of wing horn. 10 inches to 9 inches, whilst those which are Subspecific 

 residents in India vary from 9 inches to 8 inches. In European examples the white patches 

 on the primaries are rarely seen on the third, whilst in Indian examples they are rarely if 

 ever absent from it. The white on the outer web of the seventh primary is also much 

 greater in Indian than in European examples. 



The Indian Stone-Curlew is a resident in Baluchistan, India, Ceylon, and Burma, and 

 might claim to be regarded as specifically distinct were it not that intermediate forms 

 reside in North Africa, from Morocco to Egypt, and in Asia Minor and Persia. 



characters. 



