941 ^GIALITIS M0NG0L1CA. 



the last species, across the chest, extending over the sides of the neck and almost across the hind neck ; above and 

 behind the eve there is a white patch joining the rufous ; the crown tinged with fulvous next the black band ; 

 above darker brown than Ai. geoffroyi, and not tinged with rufous; the inner primaries with less white, but the 

 secondaries and greater coverts tipped with white in tbe same way ; outer tail-feathers brown on the inner web. 

 This example measures : — wing 5*3 inches ; tail 2-1 ; tarsus 1-15 ; bill to gape 0-8. 



Some examples have the rufous more intense than others. The example No. 1738 in the Swinhoe collection, referred 

 to by Mr. Seebohm (Ibis, 1870, p. 25), is an instance of such, the front of the crown being almost as richly 

 coloured as the chest. 



Occasionally the forehead is black down to the bill, the white frontal band being entirely wanting. Mr. Harting in- 

 stances a specimen from Calcutta, and others from India, as well as from New Guinea, in this plumage, and 

 Schreuck describes one from the Amoor. In others the black is bordered by w lute feathers, and in the specimen 

 which formed the type of the supposed species J5". <pyrrhoihora.se, founded on this character, all but the tips of the 

 frontal feathers are white. 



Specimens are to be met with, as mentioned below, in the hot season, which appear to be in a partial summer dress, 

 with traces of a rufous band extending completely across the chest, but with the forehead brown, as in youug birds ; 

 these examples are, in all probability, in the second year, and, notwithstanding that they are barren birds, have 

 made an advance towards the nuptial livery. 



Young, in first autumn. Upper surface slightly darker than the adult in winter plumage, with the feathers margined 

 (most conspicuously as regards the scapulars, tertials, and wing-coverts) with buff and buff-grey ; forehead in 

 some quite brown, in others buff at the base of the bill ; a blackish-browu spot round the anterior corner of the 

 eye ; the sides of the chest fulvous, brighter iu some than in others, and sometimes with this colour almost 

 crossing tho chest ; the upper breast sometimes shaded with buff ; innermost secondaries with less white on the 

 outer webs ; the spot on the outer tail-feathers smaller than in the old bird. 



Obs. This species being migratory through India to Ceylon, Indian examples call for no comparison with ours. 

 Measurements are given as follows: — (Furreedpore) length 8-42 inches, wing 4 - 73, tarsus I '25, bill at front 

 075 ( Gripps); (lrrawaddy delta, 5 males and 5 females) length 7'0 to 8 - 2, wing 4-8 to 5-15, tarsus 1'3 to 1-4, 

 bill from gape 0'85 to TO (Armstromj) — the maximum length of bill in this case is exceptional; (Sindh) length 

 7-25 to 8-0, wing 4-8 to 5-0, tarsus 1"27 to 1-39, bill at front 0-66 to 0-71 {Hume). 



Distribution.— -The Lesser or Mongolian Sand-Plover is very abundant in Ceylon, frequenting the north, 

 north-west, and north-east coasts, the eastern side of the island, and the south-eastern sea-board, as well as 

 occurring not unfrequently in the Galle district. I have also met with it on the islands in the Negotnbo lake ; 

 and on the Galle face (Colombo) during the north-east monsoon it is quite a common bird. I have observed 

 it on the sands near Mt. Lavinia, and it may therefore be safely said to inhabit the entire sea-board of 

 Ceylon. It is noteworthy that it is more often seen, and perhaps in greater numbers, on the public resort at 

 Colombo, above-mentioned, than in any other locality in the Western Province. It is equally fond of the 

 esplanades at Trincomalie and Jaffna, and, in fact, any bare land near the sea-shore or bordering the salt lakes 

 is sure to be tenanted by it. It is, however, found on the edges of all the salt lagoons and at the mouths 

 of rivers on the north and east coasts, as well as on grassy lands. In the month of October I have met it in 

 large numbers on flooded meadows some distance inland on the south bank of the Virgel. In the llambantota 

 district it was to be found in 1873 frequenting the dry shores of the leways plentifully during the hot season. 

 Most individuals were in pure winter plumage, but a few showed traces of the rufescent breast. It arrives 

 in the island in numbers in September and October ; but not a few may be seen on the north coast some 

 weeks previous to that time. It departs at the end of April and during May ; but I have no doubt that many 

 immature birds remain in the island throughout the year. 



In regard to India, Jerdon met with it, he says, in the Carnatic, on the Malabar coast, and elsewhere 

 but seldom far inland ; he observes that it is bought in great numbers to the Calcutta market ; and 

 Mr. Hume remarks that a few are daily to be seen there during the season. He records it from the Lacca- 

 dives, where he saw it at Cardamum. Mr. Ball met with it in Singhbhum and on the coast of Orissa, at the 

 mouth of the Chandballi river. In Furreedpore Mr. Gripps only once saw it on a chur of the Muddoo- 

 mutee river. How far it extends up the Gauges I am unable to say, but probably during the season of 

 migration only will it be found inland. In June it has been procured at Allahabad. On the opposite side of 



