178 Mr. H. E. Dresser on 
caspia and Turkestan, and is found in Persia, Afghanistan, 
Northern India, and North-east Africa in winter. As a rare 
strasrsrler it has also occurred in the south of France and at 
Malta. In Southern Russia it is a characteristic species of 
the Aralo-Caspian region, whence it has strayed as far north 
as Orenburg, having been obtained in that district on several 
occasions. According to Mr. Zarudny, the White-tailed 
Plover frequents the clayey and saline plains which surround 
the bare shores of the lakes and morasses of Transcaspia. 
These plains are to some extent covered with low vegetable 
growth and scattered patches of short grass, and it does 
not seem to matter to the bird whether the lakes and 
morasses are of fresh or saline water. In its general habits 
it much resembles Chettusia gregaria, but there is a difiference 
in its cry, which it is not easy to describe. It is extremely 
lively and vivacious, and fond of the society of its cono^eners. 
It runs with great facility, and is at least as active on the wing 
as Vanellus vulgaris, while in the pairing-season it indulges in 
aerial evolutions similar to those of that species. It is also 
wary and watchful to a degree, and should anyone approach 
the nesting-places it apprises other birds of the danger by its 
loud cries, flying off to meet the intruder, and making use 
of every artifice to lure him away. Owing to its extreme 
caution and watchfulness, other species affect its com- 
panionship to a large extent ; and where this bird is found it 
is impossible to stalk Swans, Geese, and other large birds, 
for directly the gunner arrives in the vicinity the White- 
tailed Plover flies over him and with loud cries warns the 
denizens of the morass of the impendiog danger. 
The present species is never found far from water, and 
seeks either on the shore or in the shallows its food, which 
consists of worms, aquatic insects of various kinds and their 
larvae. During the hottest part of the day it either rests on 
the shores of the lakes or in water which reaches up to its 
belly. 
The White-tailed Plover breeds in isolated pairs, but, as a 
rule, in spots not far distant from others of its own or allied 
species. The nest is usually placed on the shore of a lake 
