228 



VANELLIN^. 



Vanellus cristatus, Metier; P. E. 242; Gould. B. Eur. pi. 291 -, 

 Jerd. B. hid. m. p. 643, No. 851; Str. F. i. 231 ; Murrmj, HdbL, ZooL, 

 i).'c., Siud., p. 210. — The Ceested Lapwing or Peewit. 



Entire headj crest, chin, a lino below the eye, breast and forenecb 

 black, glossed with greenish ; lores, siipercilia and behind the eye, also 

 sides and back of the neck, and from the termination of the black breast 

 to the belly, white ; the sides of the head in some immature specimens 

 speckled with brown or dusky ; upper tail-coverts pale reddish chestnut ; 

 under tail-coverts slightly paler; back and scapulars olive green, glossed 

 with coppery and pnr])le ; golden green on the lower back and rump; 

 primaries black, the first three broadly terminated with greyish white; 

 1st quill shortest, third longer than the second or nearly equal ; greater 

 and lesser wing-coverts like the back ; tail white basally, and broadly 

 jjlack terminally, with narrow white tips to all the feathers ; the outer- 

 most feather entirely v/hite, except a dusky spot subterminally on the 

 iimer web. 



Length. — 12 inches, wing 9, tail 4, tarsus 2; bill black, irides hazel 

 brown, legs orange brown. In winter plajiiage the chin and thi'oat are 

 white, and there is much brown specklings on the sides of the face and 

 31,'ipe. The female is like the male in winter plumage, and throughout 

 of a duller tint. 



ITab. — Sind, Punjab, N. W. Provinces, Beloochistan, Persia, Afghan- 

 istan and K. Tarkistau, also Ncpaul and Cashmere. It is said to breed 

 in the Punjab. In Siud it is a winter visitant, aud is found in open 

 phiri's, marsliy ground, and (he banks of canals. 



