GRALL^. 57 



Length of inner toe, fully 1 inch. 

 „ of hallux, rudimentary. 



This plover is very common on the borders of mangrove 

 swamps fronting the sea^ flying in small flocks^ and perching 

 upon stones^ or on the branches of Avicennice, which frequently 

 grow out very far into the sea. They are generally excessively 

 fat, and are very good eating. 



Gen. Charadrius. 



Charadrius virginicus. 

 Pluvialis virginicus (Borkh.). 



Above, rich brown, the feathers being tipped and partially 

 barred with ochre-yellow ; these markings on the tail and wings are 

 yellowish white. 



Below, yellowish white, irregularly and sparingly marked with 

 dusky spots ; throat speckled with longitudinal marks of the same 

 colour. 



Beak and legs, horn-black. 



The general appearance of the bird is much like that of the 

 common golden plover in the winter plumage. 

 Length, 11 inches. 



,, of bill, from gape, 1 inch 1 line. 

 ,, ,, front, 11 lines. 



„ of wings, 6 inches 2 lines. 

 ,, of tail, 2 inches 8 lines. 

 „ of thigh, 2 inches 8 lines. 

 ,, of tarsus, 1 inch 7 lines. 

 ,, of middle toe, 1 inch 2 lines. 

 ,, of outer toe, 11 lines. 

 ,, of inner toe, 10| lines. 



Small flocks of these plovers frequent the grassy land on the 

 plains ; they are very wary, generally feeding on rather elevated 

 banks, and almost always rising out of shot. The stomach of 

 the specimen, from which the above description is taken, was 

 full of grasshoppers. 



Charadi'ius alexandrinus (Linn.). 

 „ cantianus (Lath.). 



Above, back and wings light dun brown, with the edges of the 

 feathers very pale ; tail-covers and centre feathers clear brown ; 

 outer tail feathers white ; front, from the beak to the space between 

 the eyes, white ; a black streak extends on each side of the head 

 from the nostril to the eye, and thence over the ears to the hind 



