SOCIAL PLOVER. 21 



The Social or Gregarious Plover is an Asiatic species, 

 which is found also inhabiting the southern parts of 

 Russia, especially the swampy plains on the borders of 

 the Volga, from whence it wanders to the Crimea, and 

 also to the eastern parts of the empire. Its appearance 

 in other parts of Europe is accidental. It has, however, 

 "occurred in Hungary, Dalmatia, Germany, Italy, and 

 France. Pallas met with it in great numbers at Ja'ik 

 and Samara, on the Volga. M. Nordmann says that 

 he has no doubt it nests in the south of Russia, and 

 Temminck says the same thing- but they neither of 

 them adduce any instances of nests having been found. 



Dr. Leith Adams informs me that he found the 

 Social Plover pretty common in the Punjab; and 

 Captain Irby includes it in his list of birds observed 

 in Oudh and Kumaon. In India it is known as the 

 Keptusca or Cawnpore Sandpiper: I quote his own 

 words, ("Ibis," vol. iii., p. 238.)— "Exceedingly common 

 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 they appear 

 at first sight very like the Golden Plover, but upon 

 taking wing they resemble Sarciophorus hilohus or 

 Lohi-vanellus cinereus, shewing a great deal of white 

 in the wings, but flying close to the ground, unlike the 

 other Plovers." 



There is not much known with certainty about the 

 nidification and habits of the Social Plover. Its es,^ 

 has only been in collections during the last two or 

 three years. It is known, however, to congregate in 

 large flocks, and to breed in companies more or less 

 numerous. The e^^, according to Badeker, is like that 

 of the Lapwing, but not diflicult to distinguish. It is 

 larger and more swollen in shape, and the ground 



