646 Catalogue of Birds in the Dukhun. [Dec. 



208. Vanellus bilobus. Char adrius bilobus, Gmel. 1. 691. Le Pluvier de la cote de 

 Malabar, Buff., PI. Enl. 880. 



The bird has a black bill, yellowish at the base ; and not a yellow bill, as describ- 

 ed in the ' Index Ornithologicus.' There are one or two other minor discrepan- 

 cies ; but no doubt it is the species figured by Buffon. Although it wants the 

 hind toe, and is therefore, agreeably to generic characters, a Charadrius, its 

 habits, figure, food, and almost its cry, are those of the preceding species. Col. 

 Sykes has therefore classed it as a Vanellus. Irides yellowish. Length inclusive 

 of tail, 11| to 12 inches : tail 3| inches. Gregarious. Found only on the open 

 stony and grass plains. Like the Van. Goensis, a restless noisy bird at night, 

 crying Deewit, Deewit. Sexes alike. 



Genus Charadrius, Auct. Plover. 



209. Charadrius pluvialis, Linn., 1. 254. 7. Le Pluvier dore, Buff., Ois. 8. 81. PI. 

 Enl. 904. Golden Plover. 



Identical with Javanese specimens. Smaller than one North American specimen 

 and two English specimens in the British Museum ; but absolutely identical 

 with other British specimens. A rare bird in Dukhun, and appearing only in 

 the cold weather. Irides almost black. Length, inclusive of tail, 10 inches : 

 tail 2.6 inches. Gregarious. In the stomach were found beetles, land insects, 

 and coarse sand. 



210. Charadrius Philippensis, Lath., Ind. Orn. 2. 745. 11. Petit Pluvier a collier 

 de Lufon, Sonn., Voy. Ind. 84. pi. 46. 



This little bird has the habits of Tot anus ; frequents the shores of freshwater 

 only ; and in firing into a flock of Sandpipers it is frequently killed in company 

 with them. Irides fuscous crimson. Length, inclusive of tail, 7J inches ; tail 

 2.3 inches. Gregarious. Sexes alike. Sonnerat, in his description, omits to 

 mention that the margins of the eyelids are bright yellow ; instead of which he 

 calls the irides yellow. 



Genus Himantopus, Ray. Longshanks. 



211. Himantopus melanopterus, Horsf., Linn. Trans. 13. 194. Charadrius Himan- 

 topus, Linn., 1. 255. L'Echasse, Buff., Ois. 8. 114. PI. Enl. 878. 



There are slight discrepancies in the plumage between the birds of Java, India, 

 and Europe ; and in case of these being permanent, and not the result of non- 

 age, specific differences might be established. Irides narrow, lake or crimson 

 colour. Length, inclusive of tail, 16 inches ; tail 3j inches ; to the end of the 

 toes 22j inches. Gregarious. Vegetable matters, larvce of water insects, and 

 minute univalve shells found in the stomach. These birds are strangely pollut- 

 ed with visceral worms of the tape and capillary kinds. 

 Genus (Edicnemus, Cuv. Thick-knee. 



212. (Edicnemus crepitans, Temm., Man. 322. Otis (Edicnemus, Lath., Ind. Orn. 

 2.661.11. Charadrius (Edicnemus, Linn., 1. 255. Le grand Pluvier, Buff., 

 PI. Enl. 919. Great-headed Thick-knee. 



There is no visible difference between the Dukhun and British species. Eyes of 

 very great size. Irides very broad, of a greenish yellow. Length, inclusive of 

 tail, 17 to 18 inches ; tail 4^ inches. Gregarious. Frequents bushy wilds as 

 well as grass plains. Not met with in woods. Land insects and seeds found 

 in the stomach. Sexes do not differ in size or plumage. This bird rests on the 

 first joint of the leglike the Gallus giganteus. 



Order V. NATATORES, III. 

 Fam. Anatidee, Leach. — Genus Plectropterus, Leach. 



213. Plectropterus melanotos, Steph., 12. 8. Anas melanotos, Gmel. 1.503. i'Ot'e 

 bronzee de Coromandel, Buff., PI. Enl. 937. Black and white Plectropterus. 

 Nukta of the Mahrattas. 



The very large vertical compressed process on the upper mandible ; the white low- 

 er part of the back ; cinereous rump ; and rudimentary black mane down the 

 back neck are not noticed in descriptions of this species. This noble and splen- 

 did bird is not common in the Dukhun. Female considerably less in size than 

 the male, and with the metallic reflections much less brilliant ; destitute also 

 of the comb or crest on the upper mandible. Seen in pairs. Horny process on 

 the bend of the wing obtuse. Length, inclusive of tail, 30 to 34 inches ; tail 5§ 

 to 6 inches. Seeds of water-grasses, and the remarkable quadrangular hard 

 seeds met with in the stomach of the Pterocles exustus found also in the stomach 

 of the Plectropterus. Digastric muscle of the remarkable thickness of 1.2 inch. 

 Genus Anser, Briss. 



214. Anser Girra. Anas Girra, Gray, Indian Zool. Must. No. 4. fig. 6. Girra 



Teal, Lath. Cotton Teal of Europeans in Dukhun, from the quantity of white 



in the plumage. 

 Irides bright crimson. 

 This handsome bird is one of the smallest of the Anatidce. Length, inclusive of 



