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Genus PLUVIANUS. 



Charadrius apud Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. i. p. 254 (1766). 



Pluvianus, Vieillot, Nouv. Diet, xxvii. p. 129 (1818). 



Eyas apud Gloger in Froriep's Notizen, xvi. p. 279 (1827). 



Cursor apud Wagler, Syst. Av., genus Cursor (1827). 



Ammoptila apud Swainson, Classif. of B. ii. p. 364 (1837). 



Cheilodromas apud Ruppell, Mus. Senck. ii. p. 208 (1845). 



Chilodromus apud Agassiz, fide Gray, Gen. and Subg. of B. p. 110 (1855). 



This genus contains only a single species, which inhabits the Ethiopian Region, but rarely 

 straggling into the Western Palsearctic Region. It frequents the shores of rivers, usually where 

 there are large sandbanks, and feeds on worms and insects. It is active and lively in its habits, 

 tripping easily and quickly about the sandbanks ; its flight is gliding and swift, and its call-note 

 clear and loud. Its nest is a mere depression in the sand; and its eggs are said to be dull 

 brownish ochreous, spotted and dotted with ash-grey, yellowish brown, and reddish brown. 



Pluvianus oegyptius, the type of the genus, has the bill much shorter than the head, rather 

 stout, straight, tapering to a point, the culmen gradually decurved to the tip, which is narrow 

 but sharp-edged ; nasal sinus short and broad, the nostrils lateral, elongated-oval, basal ; wings 

 long, full, the first quill longest, the scapulars long and narrow ; at the carpal joint there is a 

 small hard knob ; tail moderately long, even ; legs rather long, slender, the tibia bare for about 

 one third of its length ; tarsus moderate, scutellate ; no hind toe, the three anterior toes mode- 

 rately stout, scutellate above ; claws stout, rather short, curved, obtuse. 



