THE GREATEE SAND-PLOVER. 
367 
white ; the whole upper plumage and wing-coverts cinereous brown_, all the 
feathers obsoletely edged paler; the greater wing-coverts broadly tipped 
with white ; the longer upper tail-coverts more or less whitish ; lores_, a 
broad patch under the eye and the ear-coverts like the back ; a more or 
less distinct band of ashy brown across the breast, sometimes absent ; quills 
brown, the shaft of the first primary white, those of the others with a 
portion white ; the last three or four primaries with a central patch of 
white on the outer webs ; secondaries tijjped with white ; outer pair of tail- 
feathers nearly entirely white, the next pair more or less albescent with a 
brown patch near the tip, the others brown tipped with white. 
In summer the forehead is white, bounded on the front part of the crown 
by a transverse black band ; the upper plumage sandy brown ; lores, a patch 
under and in front of the eye, and the whole of the ear-coverts black ; 
breast rufous, extending on to the flanks ; other parts as in winter. 
Iris brown ; bill black, yellowish at the gape beneath ; tibia and feet 
slate-bluish or plumbeous, paling to yellowish olive or, in some, fleshy grey. 
{Legge.) 
Length 8*5 inches, tail 2*3, wing 5*4, tarsus 1"5, bill from gape 1*1, 
swollen portion of upper mandible '45. 
The Greater Sand-Plover is a winter visitor to Burmah, occurring more 
or less on the sea-shore or its immediate vicinity. Dr. Armstrong observed 
it near Elephant Point and at Amherst, and Mr. Hume^s collectors got it 
at Thatone and at the mouth of the Bassein river. It will probably be 
found along the whole sea-coast, for Mr. Shopland sent it to me from 
Arrakan. 
It inhabits the shores of nearly the whole of Asia, extending to Australia 
and the islands of the Pacific Ocean ; and it is found along the shores of 
Africa down to the Cape of Good Hope, straggling at times into Europe. 
This Plover and the others of the genus have much the same habits in 
common. They occur in flocks on mud-banks and shingle, running about 
with great speed after insects and small crustaceans. They are usually 
shy and not easily approached. They lay three or four eggs, depositing 
them on the bare ground in a small depression, and their colour is buff 
marked with purple and blackish. The present species will not of course 
be found breeding in Burmah, as it is merely a winter migrant. 
