478 



throughout the cold season ; and other specimens were sent us, procured in the first week in 

 September." In his notes on the Laccadives and west coast, he adds (Stray Feathers, iv. p. 463), 

 " It was not very uncommon at the islands. We saw, I suppose, a dozen at Cardamum and 

 Kittan, and, I believe, saw, but failed to shoot, it at one other island." 



Passing north again, I find it recorded from many parts of Eastern Asia : but it does not 

 appear to range far north ; for the Siberian explorers do not include it. It was not obtained by 

 Dr. Henderson on his expedition to Yarkand ; for he only includes jEgialitis mongolica in his 

 ornithological notes. It is found in China, though not included by Colonel Prjevalsky in his 

 list of birds occurring in Chinese Mongolia; and Mr. Whitely has obtained it in Japan. 

 Mr. Swinhoe says that he obtained it at Amoy, and has seen it from Hongkong; and on the 

 shores of Formosa it was abundant, and it appears probable that it breeds there. From here it 

 ranges southward to Australia. Cuming records it from the Philippines ; and M. Godeffroy has 

 received it from the Pelew Islands. It has been obtained in Java, Borneo, and Sumatra ; and 

 Lord Tweeddale received it (Ibis, 1877, p. 322) from Lampong, in South-east Sumatra; Hoedt 

 records it from Ceram, Foster from Amboyna, Bernstein from Halmahera, Batchian, Ternate, 

 and Morotai, Wallace from the Aru Islands, Solomon Miiller from New Guinea ; and Mr. Halting 

 states (Ibis, 1870, p. 383) that he has seen skins in winter plumage from Cape York, in the 

 collection of Mr. Gould. 



So far as I can ascertain, nothing definite is known respecting the breeding-habits of the 

 present species ; and its eggs are unknown. In habits it is said to assimilate tolerably closely 

 to the Ring-Plover ; but I find, comparatively speaking, but little on record respecting its general 

 habits beyond what I have given above. 



Besides the present species there is in Asia another very closely allied one (JEgialitis 

 mongolica), which differs only in size, being much smaller, and especially in having a smaller 

 bill and shorter tarsus. A specimen, in full summer plumage, in my collection, from Svvatow, 

 in China, measures — culmen 075, wing 5*28, tail 2*2, tarsus 1*2. 



The specimens figured are the adult pair above described, in full summer dress, and on the 

 second Plate, together with Mgialitis asiatica, in winter dress, the present species is also figured 

 in the same stage of plumage. 



In the preparation of the above article I have examined the following specimens : — 



E Mus. H. E. Dresser. 



«,?,&,$. Nahr el Kebir, Syria, May 16th, 1877 [W. Schttter). c, 6 . Nahr el Kebir, April 30th 

 {W. Schluter). 



E Mus. H. B. Tristram. 



c, 2 ■ Syr Darya, Turkestan, January 1858. b, 2 . Plain of Acre, December 9th, 1863. c. Beersheba, 

 February 1864. d, 2 . Brook Kishon, Palestine, March 19th, 1864 {H. B. T.). 



