650 BIRDS OF INDIA. 



with a broad blackish sub-terminal band, evanescent on the outer 

 feathers; beneath, from the breast, pure white. 



Bill yellow at the base, black at the tip ; lappet pale yellow 

 irides silvery grey, or pale yellow ; legs yellow. Length nearly 

 12 inches ; extent 27; wing 8£ ; tail 3£; bill at front 1; tarsus 

 21 



The Yellow-wattled Plover is found throughout the greater 

 part of India, and also Ceylon ; is rare in forest-clad and very rainy 

 districts, abundant in the drier parts of the country. It is rare in 

 Bengal, but I have seen it in the Purneah district, and it has been 

 obtained occasionally near Calcutta. It frequents dry stony 

 plains, open sandy downs, and arable land, often very far from 

 water ; it associates in small flocks, except at the pairing season, 

 and feeds on various beetles, white ants, worms, &c. It has a 

 plaintive cry, much less harsh and loud than that of the Red- 

 wattled Lapwing, which Col. Sykes likens to Dee-wit, Dee-wit. 



I have found the eggs, three to four in number, of a reddish 

 stone colour, spotted with brown and purplish, on ploughed land 

 and on sand banks. 



& pileatus, Gmel., from Africa, and & pectoralis, Cuv., from 

 Australia, with a small red lobe, belong to the genus Sarciophorus 

 as restricted by Bonaparte. 



3rd. Hoploptereas. 



"With strong spines on the shoulder of the wings. 



There are two or three minor sections in this group, some with 

 a distinct hind toe, others with only three toes. The Indian 

 species belongs to the latter section. 



Gen. Hoploptrrus, Bonaparte. 



Char. — Wings furnished with a long and stout, slightly curved 

 horny spur, present at all seasons ; no hind toe ; otherwise as in 

 \anellus. 



857. Hoplopterus ventralis, Cuvier. 



Vanellus, apud Wagler— Hardwickr, 111. Ind. Zool. — 

 Bltth, Cut. 1549 — Char. Duvaucelei, Lesson. 



