CIIAKADRIUS EULVUS. 
935 
barred with it on the outer webs ; the primaries are scarcely any blacker than in winter, but the shafts at the base 
are much darker, and there is less white towards the tips. 
The markings in some specimens are much more golden than in others ; but the specimen above described has the 
upper-surface feathers tipped with white in an exceptional manner. 
The summer dress begins to be assumed in Ceylon about the middle of April, and before the birds have left the island 
they may be procured in every stage of change almost to the complete black plumage. A male shot at Galle on 
April 29, 1871, has the face and under surface nearly uniform black, a few of the feathers on the upper part of. the 
throat, and here and there on the breast, being parti-coloured ; the white band on the forehead and down the sides 
of the neek is fully developed, and all the upper-surface markings bright golden yellow. 
The breast is the first part to change, and becomes tolerably black before the black face and throat and the white 
forehead are assumed. As I remarked in the « Ibis ’ for 1 874, the black under plumage is assumed, to a considerable 
extent, by a change of colour in the feather ; black marginal spots appear near the tips of the breast-feathers, 
and quickly coalesce until the terminal half, all but the extreme tip, becomes black;, the white margin then 
turns ; these feathers maybe distinguished from the new-moulted feathers, which are entirely black, and ot course 
encased in the usual manner at the shaft. 
Young, nestling in down (Yenesay river, July 22, 1877 : mus. Seebohm). Above mixed velvety black, golden yellow, 
and white ; the black markings in the form of bold blotches and conspicuous mottlings ; forehead and lores white, 
with a cross-shaped black mark ; an irregular band of white across the hind neck, joining the white throat and 
fore neck ; above and below the gape there is a black line running back to the ear-coverts ; under surface greyish 
white. Tarsus 1-4 inch, bill to gape 0-8 ; bill black ; legs and feet wood-brown. 
The first plumage is very similar to the adult winter dress ; but the spots on the upper surface are smaller and less 
bright, and the under surface is sullied with grey ; the ground-colour of the head and back is not so dark as m 
the adult. 
Ohs. This species was first confounded with the European bird C. pluvialis, and was afterwards thought to be the 
same as the American race O. virginicus. It afterwards received a title of Temminck’s, applied to it by Bonaparte, 
and was finally demonstrated to be the same as the Malasian and Australian species, O.fulvus. 
It differs notably from C. pluvialis in having the axillary plume and under wing grey instead of pure white, in having 
longer legs and a proportionately larger bill. The European bird has also a different character of marking on the 
upper surface, more easily understood at a glance than from description on paper. A specimen in breeding- 
plumage from the Yenesay, shot by Mr. Seebohm, has a greater number of marginal yellow spots on the upper- 
surface" feathers than are present in the Asiatic race, and the tertials are marked noth regular oblique marginal 
bands instead of spots as in our bird; the black frontal band is slightly broader ; the bands of the central tail-feathers 
are yellower and more complete than in our bird. 
The nestling G. pluvialis is quite differently coloured, being finely mottled with golden yellow and black on the upper 
surface” without the nuchal white band ; the forehead is without the cross-shaped mark, and the cheeks are mixed 
brown and yellow. Tarsus 1-2 inch ; bill to gape 0-62. In these measurements even the chick is well marked. 
C. virginicus has the axillaries dark grey, as in C. fulvus, but is larger. 
Distribution. — The Asiatic Golden Plover arrives in Ceylon in great numbers in the month of October; 
but in some seasons considerable flocks reach the island nearly a month earlier. I have met with it m the 
south of Ceylon near Wackwelia as early as the 10th of September. In 1875 they first made their appearance 
at Trincomalie about the 5th of October, at which time they were to be seen frequenting isolated rocks in the 
harbour and about the sea-coast, previous to overspreading the interior. In a few days they disappeared from 
these marine localities, and took up their usual habitat in open places along the sea-board and inland swamps 
and fields. Mr. Holdsworth remarks that they arrive in the Manaar district (Aripu) in August, many of 
them still wearing traces of their summer dress ; and this I have noticed in September specimens at Galle. 
During the season of its sojourn in Ceylon it wanders about a good deal in wet weather, appearing in places 
after a heavy night’s rain in November, December, and January where it is never seen in dry weather. On 
such occasions it makes its appearance in public places near the sea, such as the Galle face at Colombo, and 
the esplanades at Galle, Jaffna, and Trincomalie. I have met with it in suitable localities in all parts of the 
northern north-eastern, and north-western districts which I have visited ; and the same may be said of the 
low country in the west and south of the island. It is very abundant between Wackwelia and Baddegama, 
