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Genus ^EGIALITIS. 



Pluvialis apud Brisson, Orn. v. p. 60 (1760). 



Charadrius apud Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. p. 253 (1766). 



JEgialitis, Boie, Isis, 1822, p. 558. 



Hiaticula apud G. R. Gray, List of Gen. of B. p. 65 (1840). 



Oehthodromus apud Reichenbach, Natiirl. Syst. p. xviii (1851). 



Cirrepidesmus apud Bonaparte, Compt. Rend, xliii. p. 417 (1856). 



Morinellus apud Bonaparte, ut supra. 



JEgialophilus apud Gould, Hand. B. bof Austral, ii. p. 234 (1865). 



The Ring-Plovers inhabit the Pakearctic, Ethiopian, Oriental, Australian, Nearctic, and Neo- 

 tropical Regions, five species being found in the Western Palsearctic Region. They are, as a 

 rule, inhabitants of shingly and sandy places, either on the sea-coast or on the shores of lakes 

 and streams ; and the red-breasted species frequent the large open steppes. They feed on insects, 

 worms, small shell-fish, &c, and pick up their food either on the shores or else further inland ; 

 I have often found them in large flocks feeding on large mud-flats on the coast. They run 

 with great swiftness and ease, keeping the body very steady, and taking incredibly quick steps ; 

 and they fly quickly and well, their flight being even and steady. Their note is clear and loud, 

 and is not unfrequently modulated so as to be quite melodious. Their nest is a mere depression 

 in the ground ; and they deposit four eggs, which are dull ochreous or stone-buff, spotted and 

 blotched with blackish brown. 



JEgialitis hiaticula, the type of the genus, has the bill much shorter than the head, rather 

 slight, as broad as high, straight to the end of the nasal depression, then slightly raised, and 

 decurved to the tip, which is narrow but rather obtuse ; nasal groove extending beyond the 

 centre of the bill ; nostrils small, linear, subbasal ; wings long, pointed, the first quill longest, 

 the inner secondaries nearly as long as the primaries ; tail rather broad, moderately long, nearly 

 even, the two centre feathers rather elongated and pointed ; legs moderately long, slender, the 

 tibia bare for a short distance ; tarsus covered with hexagonal scales ; hind toe wanting, the 

 anterior toes moderately long, slender, slightly webbed at the base; claws short, compressed, 

 slightly curved, rather obtuse. 



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