530 



keeps together in flocks of from twenty to one hundred, and, until shot at once or twice, is 

 fearless and tame." Mr. Hume does not believe that it breeds in India. Mr. R. M. Adam met 

 with it sparingly during the winter on the plains near the Sambhur Lake. Dr. Jerdon writes 

 (B. of India, ii. p. 645) : — in India it " is a somewhat rare bird ; and I have only seen it in 

 Western India at Jalna in the Deccan, and at Mhow in Central India. It frequents grassy 

 plains in flocks of from eight to twenty, is rather shy, and has a peculiar cry, which, however, 

 it does not utter frequently. It is a migratory bird, departing early in the year for Central Asia, 

 where, according to Pallas, it breeds. Adams states it to be pretty common during the cold 

 months in fields and wastes near Loodiana." Colonel Irby writes (Ibis, 1861, p. 238) that it 

 is exceedingly common in Oudh and Kumaon " on open sandy plains in January, February, and 

 March. Never seen alone, but in flocks of from six to upwards of fifty. When on the ground, 

 at first sight they appear very like the Golden Plover ; but upon taking wing they resemble 

 Sarciophorus bilobus or Lobivanellus cinereus, showing a great deal of white in the wings, but 

 flying close to the ground, unlike the other Plovers." Mr. Holdsworth met with it in Ceylon, 

 whence it had not previously been recorded, and writes (P. Z. S. 1872, p. 471) that he ; ' identified 

 a single specimen of this Plover, shot by Mr. Bligh on the Galle face at Colombo." 



Respecting the habits of the present species I find nothing of interest recorded beyond what 

 is given above. It appears to assimilate tolerably closely to the Lapwing in habits, to go in 

 tolerably large flocks during the seasons of migration and winter, and to be, as a rule, rather 

 shy. It certainly breeds near Sarepta ; but I have no information thence respecting its mode 

 of nidification. A single egg sent to me by Mr. Moschler, who informs me that it was obtained 

 by his Sarepta collector with the birds, closely resembles eggs of the common Lapwing (Vanellus 

 cristatus), but is, if any thing, rather paler in ground-colour, and a trifle more sparingly marked 

 with spots and blotches. Like the other Plovers this species is insectivorous, and feeds on grass- 

 hoppers, spiders, coleoptera, and insect-larva?. 



The specimens figured are an adult bird in full breeding-dress and an immature but nearly 

 adult specimen, both being the birds from which the descriptions are taken ; but the youngest 

 bird described, for which I am indebted to Mr. Harting, I received rather too late to figure. 



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



E Mus. H. E. Dresser. 



a, (J. Volga, April. b, 3 , c, 2 . Sarepta, South Russia, March (H. F. Moschler). d,juv. Southern Russia 

 {Bode). 



E Mus. Howard Saunders, 

 a, c? ad. Volga (H. F. Moschler). b,juv. Crimea (Th. Schmidt). 



E Mus. J. E. Harting. 



a, b, c, d, ad. Southern Russia {Moschler). e, $ . Sarepta. f, d ad. Punjab, March 1868 (Hume). g,h,juv. 

 Punjab, November and December 1867 (Hume). i,juv., first year. Punjab, November 1869 (Elives). 

 k,2juv., second year. Umballah, February 1867 (Dr. Scott). 1,6. Bhawulpore, February 1868 

 (Marshall), m, 2 . Ferozepore. 



