036 BIRDS OF INDIA. 



inhabits all Europe, temperate Asia, the north of Africa, and 

 Australia ; is stated to breed far north, among mountains, and its 

 eggs are said to be very large. 



Varieties of the Grey Plovers are given from America and 

 Australia, and one species, <S. rhynchomega, with a very strong 

 bill, from Abyssinia, is recorded by Bonaparte. Between the 

 Grey and Golden Plovers, the same Ornithologist places Zonibt/x 

 modestus Licht. (V. ductus Lesson,) figured Zool. Voy. de la 

 Coquille, pi. 43. 



Gen. Charadrius, Linn, (as restricted.) 



Syn. Pluvialis, Brisson. 



Char. — Bill straight, short, compressed, swollen at the tip ; 

 legs moderate ; wings long, pointed, 1st quill longest; tail short. 



The plumage of these birds is usually brown spotted with 

 yellow, hence they are called Golden Plovers ; in summer the 

 whole lower surface becomes black, the upper plumage at the same 

 time assuming a darker tinge. Several very closely allied species 

 are found all over the world. 



845. Charadrius longipes, Temminck. 



C. virginicus, apud Blyth, Cat. 1560 — C. pluvialis apud Sykes, 

 Cat. 209, and Jerdon, Cat. 359 — C. xanthocheilus, Wagler, 

 Gould, Birds of Australia, VI., pi. 13? — C. orientalis, Schlegel 

 — Chota battan, H. 



The Golden Plover. 



Descr. — In winter plumage the general colour above is dull 

 blackish-grey, the edges of all the feathers with triangular spots of 

 gamboge yellow ; the primaries blackish ; tail-feathers banded whit- 

 ish and dull black ; the chin white, front of neck and breast white, 

 tinged with dusky and spotted with dull yellow ; the rest of the 

 lower plumage dull whitish ; the flanks somewhat spotted with 

 ashy and yellowish. 



Bill dull black ; irides deep brown ; legs and feet dark plum- 

 beous green. Length 10 inches; extent 20; wing 6| ; tail 2f ; 

 bill at front | ; tarsus If. 



In summer the upper plumage becomes darker, the ground 

 colour being somewhat deeper, and the yellow spots diminished 



