640 BIRDS OF INDIA. 



also, but more rarely, and seldom far inland. Adams states that 

 he shot it at the Chimouraree Like in Ladakh, and that it breeds 

 there, but that he did not see it in the Punjab. This plover is 

 found throughout great part of Asia and South-eastern Europe. 



To this type I consider that the following species also belongs, 

 although placed in the next group by Bonaparte. 



848. iEgialitis cantianus, Latham. 



Charadrius, apud Latham — Blyth, Cat. 1564 — Jerdon, Cat. 

 362— Gould, Birds of Europe, pi. 298. 



The Kentish Ring-plover. 



Descr. — Crown of the head and nape light brownish-red, the 

 rest of the upper parts ashy-brown ; primaries brown, the shafts 

 white ; tail with the central feathers as the back, the two outermost 

 white, and the next partially white ; forehead, a broad streak over 

 the eye, and a ring round the neck, white ; lores and ear-coverts 

 black, and a black stripe on the forehead ; lower parts white, with 

 a large patch of black on each side of the breast. 



Bill black; irides brown; feet dusky grey or blackish. Length 6f 

 inches ; extent 13 to 14 ; wing 4 T 3 j ; tail 2 ; bill at front y 7 ^ ; tarsus 

 1 or rather more. The female is said to differ in having the lores 

 and ear-coverts brown instead of black, and less white and black 

 on the head ; and the young have neither white nor black markings. 



The Kentish Ring-plover is more generally diffused in India than 

 the last two species, being more frequently found far inland on the 

 banks of rivers and large tanks ; but, like the others, it prefers the 

 neighbourhood of the Sea-coast, and large rivers near their mouths. 

 It has a wide geographical distribution over the old continent. 



H. nificajpilla, Tern., and H. i?ioruata, Gould, from Australia, are 

 members of this group ; and there are others. 



The next group is that of the little Ringed-plovers, which 

 frequent dry sandy plains, occasionally the sandy beds of rivers. 



849. iEgialitis Philippensis, Scopoli. 



Charadrius, apud Scopoli — Blyth, Cat. 1567 — Jerdon, Cat. 

 360 — Sykes, Cat. 210— C. hiaticuloides, Franklin — C. hiati- 

 cula, apud Pallas f — Zirrea, II. — Bytu ulanka, Tel., also Reiva. 



