KEPTUSCHKA LAPWING.

Vanellus Keptuschka, Temm.
Le Vanneau Keptuschka.

Ir affords us considerable pleasure that we are enabled to illustrate the old and young of this very interesting
and rare species of Vanellus, from a fine adult male kindly forwarded to us by M. Lichtenstein of Berlin,
and from a young bird in the collection of the Zoological Society of London, to whom it was presented by
their valued correspondent Keith E. Abbott, Kisq., of Trebizond. We are also indebted to M. Temminck for
the use of a spirited oil painting of this bird, taken from an individual killed in France. M. Lichtenstein
considers the Vanellus Keptuschka and the Vanellus gregarius to be one and the same species, and we find on
reference to the ‘Systema Avium,’ that this was also the opinion of the lamented Dr. Wagler, who in his
monograph of the group has given the preference to the specific appellation of Keptuschka.
The eastern provinces of Europe constitute the only portions of our quarter of the globe inhabited by this
species : it also frequents the marshes of Siberia, and is common in Persia and Asia Minor.
Although closely allied to the Common Lapwing of our island, this bird and a few other species may here-
after be considered sufficiently distinct from the typical form of the genus to constitute a separate group,
particularly when we have acquired a knowledge of their habits, mode of flight, &c.
The adult male has the forehead and a broad stripe surrounding the crown pale buffy white ; crown of the
head, space between the bill and the eye, and a narrow line behind the eye deep black ; throat and sides of
the neck buff, which is palest on the chin; back of the neck, back, rump, scapularies, and wing-coverts hight
brownish grey tinged with olive; secondaries pure white; quills deep black; breast dark brownish ash,
gradually passing into deep black on the abdomen, which latter colour terminates posteriorly in rich chestnut ; |
thighs, vent, under tail-coverts and two outer tail-feathers pure white ; the remainder of the tail-feathers pure |
white, with a more or less extensive mark of deep black near their extremities, presenting the appearance |
when the feathers are closed of one large irregular patch ; bill and feet black.
The young has the feathers of the crown dark brown in the centre, margined with buff; only a faint indi- |
cation of the band surrounding the crown; sides and back of the neck, breast, upper surface, and wings dull
olive brown with paler margins ; chin and abdomen white ; secondaries, quills, and tail as in the male.
The figures are of the natural size.