MRA AA

~ 3 yo
“& ER

‘

Cvie

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said to differ only in size

tet

from the same flock, I fancy that Swainson’s supposed new species, C. Orientahs,

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Ke

S
Ase

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from the C. Asiaticus, must be abandoned.”

Colonel Sykes informs us that this species is “‘ numerous in Dukhun; but only on the open stony and
This bird has the shortness of intestine of the Bustard (equal to the length of the body), with
and with the same

Nig

grass plains.
a stomach nearly similar; feeding in the same manner on insects and their /arve,

a

a

‘con .. ee
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~@
an

cursorial habits.”

Figures of this species occur among the drawings of the late Hon. F. J. Shore, and I find the following

in reference to it among his MSS. :—
«T observed several examples about Julisor in the Aligurh district ;
hen on the ground were very like those of a Plover : their flight resembled that of

i

they all appeared to be alike; their

positions and motions w
the Bahtah Goose. The stomachs of those I examined contained the remains of small beetles and other

‘nsects : the stomach of a female I examined upon another occasion was filled with large black ants.

«¢ This bird is also common about Jubalpoor.”

Mr. Layard states, in his interesting ‘‘ Notes on the Ornithology of Ceylon,” that ‘it is found occasionally
in the Wally plains during the month of April.”

The sexes are so nearly alike, that by dissection alone can they with certainty be distinguished. The

young, examples of which were collected by Dr. Gould, are very different from the adults, as will be seen on

reference to the accompanying Plate.
Forehead and crown reddish chesnut, bounded with deep black on the occiput ; lores and a streak behind

the eye meeting at the back of the neck black; over each eye a line of white passing backwards and uniting
in the midst of the black of the occiput ; chin and upper part of the throat buffy white, gradually passing
into the light reddish chestnut of the breast and back of the neck ; upper surface, scapularies and wing-coverts
light olivaceous brown ; primaries and secondaries bluish black ; tertiaries tipped with white; outer tail-
feather on each side white, with a narrow line of black down the apical portion of the shaft ; the remainder
the two central ones with a faint trace of a black band near the tip, the others with a

ye pa) y ee

oS
7. =

olivaceous brown,
broad band of black near the extremity and tipped with white, the extent of the white increasing as the

feathers recede from the centre; upper part of the abdomen rich deep chestnut, gradually blending with
the lighter hue of the breast ; on the lower part of the abdomen a large patch of black; flanks olivaceous ;
vent, upper and under tail-coverts white ; irides dark brown ; bill black ; legs and feet creamy white.
The young have the head and all the upper surface mottled with buffy white and dark brown ; a faint wash
of rufous on the back of the neck and breast ; and the tips of the central tail-feathers mottled like the back.
The figures, which are of the size of life, represent a male in the fully adult livery, and two young birds in

the variegated costume of their first autumn.

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