ERODIA AMPHILENSIS, Salt 

 Pied Erodia. 



PLATE LXXV. 



E. corpore albo, dorso nigro-griscescente, remigibus, rostro pedibusque nigris. 



Erodia amphilensis, Salt, Tr. in Abyss. App. t. 11. p. 371- 

 Dromas Ardeola, Paykull, Temm. PI. Coloriees, pi. 362. 



\V e received two skins of this curious bird, differing very little in colour 

 or markings from each other, from a correspondent in India, where it is 

 stated to be of not unfrequent occurrence in particular localities. It is 

 met with upon the shores of Ceylon ; and the two individuals sent over to 

 us were shot upon the Delft Islands, a great resort of aquatic birds in that 

 region. Mr Salt, who first described the species, and whose name of 

 Erodia we have adopted as the generic appellation, met with it upon the 

 shores of the Red Sea. Of its peculiar habits and mode of life we can 

 give but little information. It resides upon the oozy shores of seas and 

 lakes, for which localities it is well adapted, from the length of its tarsus, 

 and the form of its feet, which are very similar to those of the Avosets. 

 From the strength of its bill, we suppose that its food principally consists 

 of crustaceous animals, shell-fish, &c. Arranged according to its affinities, 

 it seems to form a connecting link between the Avosets, whose form and 

 feet it possesses, and the (Edicnemes, or Thick-knees, to some species of 

 which, particularly the CEdicnemus magni-rosfris (CEdicneme a gros bee of 

 Temminck, PL Colo?\ pi. 387.), its bill in proportion and form very nearly 

 approaches. We are uncertain as to the sex of the individual we have fi- 

 gured, but, from Temminck's observations, we conclude it to be a female or 

 young male, the wing-coverts and scapulars being of a pale smoke-grey. 

 The length is about 1 5 inches ; the bill 2^ inches long, colour black : the 

 crown of the head is streaked with deep grey ; the throat, neck, and whole 



