CHAEADEITJS. 137 



It is a resident in West Africa. It is unquestionably most nearly allied to C. tricollaris Geographi- 



n J J cal distribu- 



and, like that species, is principally an inland bird, differing very slightly in the colours of tion. 

 its plumage in consequence of age, sex, or season. 



CHARADRIUS BIFRONTATUS. 



MADAGASCAR THREE-BANDED PLOVER. 



Charadrius, subgen. Hiaticula minores, pectore fasciis duabus obscuris ornato : fronte alba ad Diagnosis, 

 basin brunnea : rectricibus lateralibus non nisi fascia una obscura, ornatis. 



It is not known that this species varies. Variations. 



Charadrius bifrontatus, Cabanis, Journ. Orn. 1882^ p. 112. Synonymy. 



Plates. — Cabanis, Journ. Orn. 1885, pi. vi. fig. 5. T't t 



Habits. — Grandidier, Ois. de Madagascar, p. 510. 

 Eggs. — Unknown. 



The Madagascar Three-banded Plover is somewhat intermediate between its West- Specific 

 African and South-African allies. It agrees with them in having the breast crossed by two 

 dark bands, and with the latter in having the outer tail-feathers crossed by only one dark 

 bar, and in having the white eye-stripe meeting across the forehead; but it differs from it 

 in two points, also found in the former species. The grey on the lores and ear-coverts 

 extends downwards over the chin and throat as far as the upper black band, and upwards 

 across the lower forehead. 



It is supposed to be confined to the island of Madagascar. It is found inland, and Geographi- 

 probably occasionally on the coast. It is not known to differ from its nearest allies in its ^ ls n u " 

 variations of plumage. 



It appears to be a perfectly good species, and it is very remarkable that it should have 

 escaped detection so long. Milne-Edwards and Grandidier, in their magnificent work on 

 the birds of Madagascar, describe it correctly ; they remark : " les joues et la gorge sont, 

 ainsi cpie la front, d'un gris cendre ; " and in their synonymy they refer to Heuglin's plate 

 of the head of the allied species in East and South Africa, in which the forehead and throat 

 are pure white ! 



