PLUVIANUS ARMATUS, (nobis). 

 Armed Pluvian. 



PLATE LIV. 



P. niger, vertice, nucha, abdomine, europygio crissoque albis ; scapulis tectricibusque 

 griseis, alis calcaratis. 



Charadrius armatus, Burchell, Dr. Smith's MS. Notes. 



W e received this handsome species some time since from Southern Africa, 

 under the title of " Charadrius armatus, Burchell," but have been un- 

 able to ascertain from whence Dr Smith obtained the above reference. 

 We have retained the trivial name, but have placed the species in Viel- 

 lot's genus Pluvianus, for which we would take a well known species, 

 P. coronatus, as the type. The genus seems confined to Africa and Asia, 

 though we have some birds from New Holland which are very nearly al- 

 lied. It seems also to be a group very limited in its local distribution. 



Dr Smith met with our specimen to the south of the Buchuanna coun- 

 try, and mentions it as of rare occurrence. It is about twelve inches in 

 length, and of a graceful and rather slender make, the crown of the head, 

 the back part of the neck, the vent and rump, are pure white ; the shoul- 

 ders and greater wing-coverts are a fine brownish-grey ; the other parts 

 are deep black, with green reflections, the whole distribution of the colours 

 giving to the bird a very variegated or piebald appearance ; the bill, legs 

 and feet are black, the latter slender, and more lengthened than in the ty- 

 pical species ; the shoulders are armed with a strong and sharp spur. 



