152 CHARADKIID^.— STEEPSILAS. 



132. Metopidius^indicus. The Bronzed-wing jAgANi.. 

 Dal-pipi, Bengal ; Kattoi, Pumeah. 



(J 10". $12". Legs green. Mid toe and claw 3-6". Bill yellow. Frontal 

 shield large. Head, neck, breast, and wing-lining black, glossed green. Back, 

 rump, upper tail-coverts, tail, and under tail-coverts chestnut. India, Burma, 

 Siam, Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Java, and Celebes. Wanting in Ceylon and 

 Kashmir. Four eggs (147 x 1-03), glossy bufif, with dark brown lines. (J. 900. 



B. 1428.) 



Also the genus Phyllopezus. With frontal shield very small, and wing-spur nearly obsolete. 

 Two species — P. africanus, 10", mid toe and claw SJ", from Africa ; and P. albinucha, lOJ", 

 mid toe and claw 3-3", from Madagascar. 



Also the genus HydraUctor. With frontal lappet and erect central crest. Two species — 

 S. galUnacetis, 9", mid toe and claw 3-6", from Australia, Celebes, and S. Borneo ; and 

 H. Tiovce-guinece, T-S", mid toe and claw 31", from New Guinea. 



Also the genus Jai^nd. With single median indentation in frontal lappet, and pendent 

 lappets at angles of mouth. Wing-spur very sharp. Three species — J. jagand, 7-8", mid toe 

 and claw 2'9", from S. America ; J. melanopygia, 8i", mid toe and claw 2-9", from C. and S. 

 America ; and J. nigra, 7i", mid toe and claw 2-9", from C. and S. America. 



Also the genus Asarcia. With double indentation in frontal lappet, and no mouth lappets 

 Wing-spur long and sharp. One species — A. ■variabilis, 7J", mid toe and claw 2-8", from Texas, 



C. America, Cuba, etc. 



Also the genus Microparra. With forehead feathered. One species — M. capensis, 6", mid 

 toe and claw 2-1", from S. Africa. 



Family CHAEADEIID^. Plovers, Lapwings, Sandpipers, and 



Snipes. 



Bill short, basal half soft. Long nasal groove. Wings long and pointed. 

 Gape small. Hind toe short or wanting. Toes webbed or unwebbed. Tarsus 

 usually reticulated, but sometimes scutellated. Cosmopolitan. Four eggs, pear- 

 shaped. Young hatched covered with thick down, and able to run in a few hours. 



Subfamily Charadriin^. Plovers and Lapwings. 



Bill short, slightly enlarged on top at tip, resembling that of a Pigeon (Strepdlas 

 excepted). Nasal groove not extending beyond half the length of upper mandible. 

 Toes scarcely webbed or connected. Tarsus always reticulated behind, but, in 

 front, sometimes reticulated and sometimes scutellated. First quill usually longest. 

 The difficulties in recognition may be partially overcome if the species are ex- 

 amined in the following groups, viz. — 



With neither wing-spur nor facial wattle (133-148). 



Without wing-spur, and with a facial wattle (149-152). 



With wing-spur, and without a facial wattle (153). 



With both wing-spur and a facial wattle (not represented in India). 



(i.) With no wing-spur, and no facial wattle. 

 Genus STREPSILAS. 



Strepsllas, from <TTpi(piii=I turn, and Xoaj, contracted in Attic to Xas=a stone. 



Top of bill compressed and truncated. Nostril in a groove which extends 

 nearly half-way down bill. Kemiges twenty-five. First primary longest. Tarsus 

 transversely scaled in front, reticulated behind. Hind toe well developed. Toes 

 without webs. Cosmopolitan. 



