522 



creamy rufous ; under tail-coverts creamy rufescent ; bill blackish ; iris dark brown ; legs blue-grey. 

 Total length about 8'5 inches, culmen 09, wing 5 - 5, tail 2'65, tarsus 1"38. 



Obs. I do not possess the present species in immature plumage to describe. Von Heuglin states that the 

 young bird differs but slightly from the adult, in having the underparts duller isabelline rufescent and 

 to some extent marked with smoky bars. The young in down is said to be brownish yellow marked 

 with black. 



The present species, which is so common on the banks of the Nile, is but seldom seen out of 

 Africa, and has only occurred as a very rare straggler north of the Mediterranean. Dr. C. L. 

 Brehm states (J. f. O. 1854, p. 70) that his son, Mr. Alfred Brehm, on examining a collection of 

 birds formed by the reigning Duke of Coburg-Gotha, saw a pair of the present species, which 

 the Duke informed him he had himself shot on an island off the coast of Spain. With this 

 exception I do not find it recorded from Europe proper ; but, as above stated, it is common in 

 Egypt, and is one of the first birds to attract the Nile-tourist's attention. It is, Von Heuglin 

 says, common from the delta into Nubia, rarer on the Blue and White Nile. He observed it 

 singly in the valley of the Takazie, in Abyssinia, and on the Djur river (in 8° N. lat., 25° 30' 

 E. long.), but not in the true swamp-region, and on mountain-streams. It is a resident, fre- 

 quenting the low sand islands and flat shores, avoiding the deep canals, salt or brackish water, 

 and overflowed tracts of cultivated ground. Captain Shelley writes (B. of Egypt, p. 235) that it 

 " is plentifully distributed throughout Egypt and Nubia, but is most abundant in Upper Egypt, 

 from Sioot to Thebes, being almost invariably seen in pairs. They never wander far from the 

 river-bank ; and when on the wing fly close over the surface of the water, frequently uttering 

 their cry during flight. They look very handsome as they thus skim along the stream on out- 

 spread pinions, displaying their distinctly marked plumage to the greatest advantage," Mr. E. 

 Cavendish Taylor also remarks (Ibis, 1867, p. 68): — "This very beautiful bird is abundant all 

 along the Nile above Cairo, wherever the banks of the river are muddy ; it avoids rocky ground, 

 and is therefore not so plentiful near Assouan. It was generally in pairs during the month of 

 March ; but I know nothing of its nidification. I see no reason to alter my previously expressed 

 opinion (Ibis, 1859, p. 52) that this bird is probably the Trochilos of Herodotus. It has, I think, 

 a better claim to that honour than the Spur-winged Plover (Hoplopterus spinosus), because it 

 frequents the same localities as the crocodiles, namely mud- and sandbanks in the middle of the 

 river ; whereas the Spur-wing is more generally met with high and dry in the fields, in which it 

 would not be likely to meet with many crocodiles." The Black-headed Plover is also found in 

 North-west Africa, and some distance down the west coast. Loche says that it is of accidental 

 occurrence in Algeria ; but he does not appear to have obtained it. There is a specimen in the 

 Berlin Museum from Senegal; it has been recorded by Beaudouin from Bissao, by Gujon from 

 the Gaboon, by Payes from Casamanse; and Mr. J. J. Monteiro says (Ibis, 1862, p. 336) that he 

 saw it running along the sandy banks of the river Quanza, in Angola. 



The present species does not appear to range into Asia proper ; but it seems to straggle into 

 Palestine ; for Canon Tristram says (Ibis, 1868, p. 322) that Mr. Herschell shot one in the 

 Jordan valley. 



In habits the Black-headed Plover is very lively and by no means shy, being perhaps one of 



