LEUCOPOLIUS. 
In the Catalogue of the Birds in the British Museum, in addition to Ochtho- 
dromus and Podasocys as before mentioned, Oxyechus was used for vociferus^ 
tricollariSf hifrontatus, and forhesi ; ^gialeus for se7nipahnatus and ^gialitis 
for hiaticola, placida, duhia, peroni, alexandrina^ ynarginata, pallida, venusta, 
ruficapilla, collaris, nivosa, meloda, occidentalis, falklandica, pecuaria, sanctce- 
helence, 7nelanops, and cucullata, the genera Thinornis for novce-zelandice and 
Anarhynchus for frontalis being also admitted. It will be noted that Sharpe’s 
^gialitis covers Seebohm’s “ Hiaticulce and his JEgialophili ininores ” very 
nearly, but that Seebohm’s Migialophili majores mostly fall into Sharpe’s 
Odithodrojnus. 
Sharpe’s diagnosis for his genus ^gialitis reads (p. 146) : — 
Tarsus long, exceeding middle toe and claw in length. 
Outer toe joined to the middle one by a web as far as the 
second joint Mgialevs. 
Outer toe not connected with th6 middle one near the base JEgialitis. 
This diagnosis is incorrect. 
In the American Ornithologists’ Union’s Checklist, 3rd ed., 1910, p. 128, 
Oxyechus is preserved for vociferus and Mgialitis includes se^nipahnata 
{^gialeus being suppressed), hiaticula, duhia, 7neloda, nivosa, and 7nongola. 
In the Hand-List of British Birds, Charadrius covers 7norinellus, asiaticus, 
hiaticula, duhius, alexandrinus, vociferus, apricarius, and do 7 ninicus. Unfor- 
tunately in this work no generic definitions are given, as it would have been 
interesting to read the diagnosis covering such diverse forms ; and it was the 
impossibihty (to me) of providing such, that led me to consider more carefully 
the nature of the bill, feet, and colouring than was necessary under a 
policy of lumping. 
In the “Water Birds of North America” (ilfm. Mus. Co 7 np. Zool. (Harv.), 
Vol. XII.), Vol. I., 1884, p. 147, Baird, Brewer, and Ridgway diagnosed 
Oxyechus, and wrote : “ Two Old World species appear to belong here 
rather than with the true uEgialitis, namely, Charadrius tricollaris Vieill. of 
South Africa and Ch. nigrifrons Cuvier of Australia . . . The Australian 
species agrees essentially with the above in size and proportions, but has 
broader and acuminate rectrices, and the tail is more nearly even, while 
the plumage is handsomer, and more varied than in any other species 
of the group.” 
One of the most striking features of Charadrius hiaticula Linne is the 
particoloured bill : many of the species associated with it in the Catalogue 
of Birds having whoUy black biUs, it seemed of interest to separate these into 
two groups, and note if the particoloured bill had any significance. It should 
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