240 
BROWN-BACKED PLOVER. 
tertials, and wing-covers, are of a uniform dark or 
sepia brown, much more intense than in the gene- 
rality of the species ; while on the rump this colour 
becomes blackish, the greater quills are entirely of a 
deep black, except two or three of the shortest, 
which are tipt with white ; the lesser quills are 
nearly all pure white with a little black at their 
base ; the tail, although obtuse, is veryslightly forked, 
and with the covers, is pure white ; just before the 
tips, however, a broad black bar crosses the centre 
pair. 
The under plumage, from the chin (which is 
white) to beyond the breast, is of a light sooty black, 
deepening as it descends, and then abruptly ter- 
minating at its darkest part, beyond which the rest 
of the feathers are entirely pure white ; the bill and 
legs are deep black, and the tail does not exceed 
the length of the wings. 
Total length, 9 J inches; bill, base, ; wings, Gi ; 
tail, base, 3 ; depth of the fork, ^ ; tarsus, 2 T 2 5 ; 
naked space above the knee, 1 T 3 C ; middle toe and 
claw, -jV 
