480 



lacking the rufous pectoral band, this part being greyish brown, slightly tinged with reddish ; and the 

 white on the head and throat covers a rather smaller area. 



Adult in winter (Transvaal). Resembles the female in summer; but the pectoral band is much paler and 

 greyer, and gradually merges into the white above and below. 



Young of the year (Kirghis steppes, 2nd July). Upper parts as in the winter dress, but all the feathers 

 margined with warm ochreous buff or buffy white; forehead and the superciliary stripe slightly 

 washed with buff; pectoral band very indistinct, and buffy grey in colour; legs (judging from the dried 

 skin) dark greyish, and not ochreous. 



Young in doivn (Kirghis steppes, June). Crown and upper parts generally buffy white, slightly tinged with 

 rufous buff, and richly mottled with black ; hind neck scarcely mottled ; forehead, sides of the head, 

 and entire underparts white. 



The present species inhabits Western Asia, straggling rarely into the Western Palsearctic Region ; 

 and in the winter season it is found in Africa as far south as the Cape of Good Hope. It has 

 occurred twice on Heligoland — a young bird in November 1850, and an adult male in full 

 summer plumage on the 19th May 1859, both specimens being still in the well-known collection 

 of Mr. Gatke, where they were lately examined and identified by Mr. Seebohm as belonging to 

 the present species. According to Professor von Nordmann a single example was procured near 

 Odessa in April 1836; and it has been recorded from Palestine by Canon Tristram: but this 

 latter statement is evidently an error ; for this gentleman's specimens have been sent to me for 

 examination, and there is certainly not a single one of the present species amongst them ; but as 

 it is so very common near the Caspian, it may not improbably straggle into Palestine. It is 

 stated by the Russian authors to occur commonly in the Kirghis steppes. Pallas records it from 

 the shores of the Caspian ; De Filippi obtained it at Enzeli ; and Dr. Severtzoff states that it 

 breeds throughout Turkestan. But it does not appear to range far east into Asia. It is not 

 recorded by any of the Siberian or Indian authors; and though Mr. Harting states (Ibis, 1870, 

 p. 207) that it strays into Northern China, I cannot but think that this must be an error; for 

 Mr. Swinhoe does not include it in his list of the birds of China published in the Proc. Zool. Soc. 

 May 1871 ; nor is it included by either Colonel Prjevalsky or MM. David and Oustalet. The 

 species found in Eastern Asia generally, JEgialitis vereda, Gould, P. Z. S. 1848, p. 38, which 

 appears to be common in China and Japan, though tolerably closely allied to the present species, 

 is readily distinguishable by its larger size, larger and stouter bill, longer wing, and smoke-grey 

 axillaries. 



The present species is found in North-east Africa. Von Heuglin states (Orn. N.O.-Afr. 

 p. 1019) that he now and again saw small flocks in the winter on the north coast of Egypt and 

 in the Gulf of Suez, which he believes were composed of this species, and in the swamps of East 

 Kordofan, on the Lower, White, and Blue Nile ; and on the shores of Lake Tana, in Abyssinia, 

 he met with it in April and May in full summer plumage, and in the autumn in immature dress. 

 Mr. Blanford also says that he shot examples at Rairo, in Habab, in August, when they were in 

 flocks on open grassy ground. 



I do not find it recorded from North-west Africa ; but Mr. C. J. Andersson records it from 

 Damara Land, and says (B. of Damara L. p. 271) that small flocks may at times be seen, but it 



