CHETTUSIA G-KEGARIA. 961 



found it very shy in the savannas of Kordofan and Sennaar ; it frequented sandy localities and ground that 

 had been burnt ; he observes that they seldom alighted on the ground, but mostly moved in quick low- 

 flying flocks over the plains, sometimes crossing the caravan-roads, which gave him an opportunity of shooting 

 several from horseback; otherwise it was not possible to get near them. They were, as a rule, quite silent; 

 but now and then he heard it utter a shrill, short whistle. He found its food to consist of grasshoppers, 

 spiders, beetles, and larvaj. In Sindh this Plover seems to be a favourite quarry of the Laggar Falcon. 

 Capt. Butler, writing of a pair of these Falcons and a flock of Lapwings, remarks that when the latter saw 

 their enemies approaching they " used to rise in a flock closely packed together to an immense height in the 

 air, wheeling and darting in all directions. It was of no use, however, trying to escape, the two Falcons 

 would follow them up until an opportunity occurred, and then one of them, with a velocity beyond 

 desci'iption, would make a stoop into the midst of them and strike its victim, descending with it in its claws 

 slowly to the ground." 



Nidification . — Little is known respecting the nesting of this species. Mr. Dresser describes an egg sent 

 to him by Mr. Moschler, taken near Sarepta, as closely resembling those of the common Lapwing, but 

 somewhat paler in ground-colour, and more sparingly marked with spots and blotches. 



Genus LOBIVANELLTJS. 

 Bill much as in the last genus, but longer ; a lappet of nude red skin proceeding from the 

 anterior corner of the eye and impending the lores. Shoulder furnished with a tubercle, which 

 develops at the breeding-season. Tail as in Chettusia ; legs longer and more slender. Tarsus 

 nearly three times as long as the middle toe ; outer toe attached to the middle at the base ; hind 

 toe and claw very small. 



