CHAEADEIUS. 



147 



length from '8 to "95 inch from the frontal feathers, of which the terminal vault occupies about 

 half, distinguishes it from all its allies except from C. ohscurm. From this species it is 

 most easily distinguished by its smaller size (wing from carpal joint varying from 5j to 5f 

 inches) and much smaller foot {middle toe and claw about "9 inch). The adult male in 

 summer has a chestnut upper breast. 



Although the Greater Sand-Plover has a very wide range in winter (extending from GeograpM- 

 South Africa through India, Burma, South China, Japan, to the Malay Archipelago and tion. 

 Australia), its summer-quarters are somewhat doubtful. As it is not known to have 

 occurred in Turkestan or Siberia, and was not detected by Prjevalski in Mongolia, but 

 occurs throughout the summer, apparently in full breeding-plumage, on the coasts of Japan, 

 Formosa, and Hainan, T think we may fairly assume that it breeds in the latter localities, 

 and that the larger series of eggs obtained by Swinhoe (Seebohm, Ibis, 1879, p. 154) are 

 eggs of this species, whilst the two smaller ones are those of Hhynchma capensis. 



Heuglin (Orn. N.O.-Afr. ii. p. 1023) says that it occurs on the coasts of the Red 

 Sea from June to November, and must consequently breed there, but the conclusion seems 

 to me more than doubtful. 



The Greater Sand-Plover appears to be exclusively a sea-coast species. The chestnut 

 on the breast is duller in the female, but the very conspicuous black markings on the 

 forehead, lores, and ear-coverts appear to be entirely confined to the adult male in breeding- 

 dress, being replaced by greyish brown in all other plumages. 



Seasonal 

 changes. 



CHARADRIUS MONGOLICUS. 



MONGOLIAN SAND-PLOFEB. 



Charadkius, subgen. JEgialophili majores, pedibus nigris : rostro bre^d (maxillae arcu 7^ millim. Diagnosis, 

 aut minore) : pectore fasciis duabus obscuris nunquam omato : caudfi. brevi (mimis 

 quam 50 millim. in juv.) : supracaudalibus pallidis. 



u2 



