INTRODrOTION. 59 



the Dotterel being amongst them — whereof some are Australian, 

 others South-American, others Indian or Ethiopian ; the rest 

 being from Northern lands. 



Certain other Birds, which are variously named as "Thick- 

 knees" or " Stone-curlews" or " Stone-plovers," are exceedingly 

 like the true Plover. Indeed, one English species is often 

 taken as being the. Plover " par excellence," namely the species 

 termed (Edicnemus crepitans (fig. 61). It is often called " the 

 Great Plover " or " the Norfolk Plover," as well as by its 



Fig. 60. 



The Golden Plover (Charadrius pluvialis). 



common, but misleading, name of " Stone-curlew." It is one 

 of about nine species, whereof two are from South America, 

 three from South or Central Africa, and three from India or 

 Australia.' 



The Peewit or Lapwing (Vanellug cristatus), the cry and 

 flight of which almost every one is familiar with, is the type of 

 a group of about thirteen species, while another thirteen con- 

 stitute the closely allied'group Lobivanellus. 



Here, perhaps, may be mentioned certain Birds called the 

 Sheath-bills (CXionwaZia), with a short and curious beak, which 

 in manner and appearance somewhat recall the Pigeons to mind. 



