LOBIYANELLTJS INDICUS. 963 



In the green and vinous tints of the upper surface, the breadth of the white side neck-streak, marking of tail, &c. they 



correspond with my skins. 

 L. atronuchalis, Blyth, the Burmese representative of this species, is closely allied to it, differing in the black of the 



hind neck being of greater extent and ending abruptly at the lower part next the back, where there is a white 



band, and also in the side neck-stripe being narrower and shorter, ending a little below the ear-coverts. "Wing 



8-5 inches ; tail 4-3 ; tarsus 3-1 (Brit. Mus.). 

 In A ustralia are two species of this genus, L. lobatus (Yieill.) and L. personatus, Gould. The former has very large 

 . wattles ; in a specimen shot by me they measured, before shrinking, 1-3 inch in length, wing 9-9. Head, 



neck, and sides of chest black ; upper surface greyish brown ; wings black, beneath white. The latter species is 



the North-Australian representative of L. lobatus, differing in having the entire neck white, the top of head only 



black, and the wattles extending more over the face and more pointed at the tips. 



Distribution. — This Lapwing, though widely distributed throughout the low country, is somewhat partial 

 in its choice of locality. It is very common in the northern half of the island, as also in the north-western 

 and better-watered eastern districts, being in these parts found at almost every tank and jungle-begirt paddy- 

 field that one visits. In the Western Province it is also abundant, hut is chiefly found on pasture-land ; and 

 about Bolgoclde frequents marshes and the drier portions of large paddy-fields. In the Amhlangoda, Wack- 

 wella, and Baddegamma fields and pastures, as also about Matara, it is to he met with in moderate numbers, 

 and is likewise seen further east towards Tangalle and beyond that place. In the dry maritime region of 

 Hamhantota the next species takes its place principally, though it may there be met with about tanks and 

 marshes in the jungle. Further north, in the Wellaway Korale it is again more common, and ascends the 

 hills near Lemastota to a considerable altitude. It is also to be found on the Uva patnas at times, where 

 Mr. Bligh has seen it near Banderawella at an altitude of about 4000 feet. It likewise frequents suitable 

 localities in Dumbara, but, I understand, chiefly in wet weather, when it is a visitor to that upland from the 

 low country. 



In India it is, writes Dr. Jerdon, one of the best-known birds in the country, extending from the extreme 

 south up to Cashmir, to the west of which, in the Suliman hills, Mr. Ball met with it in the higher valleys up 

 to an altitude of 3500 feet. In the Persian Gulf Captain Butler procured it on the island of Henjarn. In the 

 noi'th-western corner of the peninsula, composed of Cutch, Kattiawar, and Guzerat, it is common, and in 

 Sindh is everywhere abundant, though not so much so, according to Mr. Hume, as in the North-west Provinces. 

 About the Sambhur Lake it is, says Mr. Adam, very plentiful, breeding there from March until July. In 

 Guzerat, Captain Butler finds that it is to some extent migratory, being scarce in the hot weather. In Oodeyr- 

 pore Mr. Hume met with it at Kunkrowlee Lake in Februaiy ; and in Jodbpoor, during the prevalence of a 

 drought in the cold season of 1877-78, he found one or more pairs about every hamlet. In the north-west, 

 as also in the lower provinces of Bengal, it is common. In Furreedpore Mr. Cripps found it to be a perma- 

 nent resident ; but further east it becomes scarce, for in North-east Cachar it is only a straggler in March 

 and April, and in Burrnah it is replaced by the allied species above mentioned. Mr. Ball records it from 

 most places in Chota Nagpur, from Orissa (north of the Mahanadi), and from the Godaveri valley. In the 

 Deccan it is abundant, and is found, says the Rev. Dr. Fairbank, by every stream in the Khandala district. 

 In the south it is found in the hill-country of Travancore, and in the lowlands is, I imagine, common. 



Habits.— This is one of the most well-known Waders in Ceylon, taking there the place of the equally 

 familiar Lapwing in the British Isles. In common, however, with many other species which are so very tame 

 and familiar in India, it is not so fond of the vicinity of human habitations as it is on the mainland; for 

 although it may be found on pasture-land surrounding villages and hamlets and even close to cottages, it prefers 

 more unfrequented localities, such as the borders of paddy-fields, edges of marshes, meadow-land surrounding- 

 large tanks, or the margins of the smaller village ones. Though not strictly a shy bird, it is wary enough 

 to rise when approached before one is within shot of it, and then, when flying round the place from which it 

 has been disturbed, uttering its well-known cry in true Lapwing fashion, it manages to keep at a respectable 

 distance from the intruder. When on the wing or when approached while on the ground, particularly at night, 

 it is constantly uttering its harsh and rather amusing notes ; these consist of a shrill cry, followed by others 

 resembling the words "Pity to do it," "Did vou do it?" — which are particularly annoying to the inexperienced 



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