Tas. LX XVIII.
VANELLUS GOENSINS.

of resort, where mollusca, worms and insects, constitute its principal food.

across the wing; quills black ;
black at the tip; legs yellow ; toes brown.
The figure is of an adult of the natural size.

 

 

 

Tus species is not figured in the “‘ Century” as a bird unknown to science, for we believe it to be synonymous
with the Goa Lapwing of authors, but rather with a view of illustrating the only species of the genus to
which it belongs that has hitherto been brought to Europe from the Himalayan mountains.

In size it is something inferior to our Lapwing, or Peewit, though the great length of its legs and more
slender contour of body render it the more elegant and graceful bird of the two. The Vanellus Goensis enjoys
a very widely extended locality, being met with over nearly the whole of the Eastern continent, and it has
even been received from China. In all these countries, marshy and reedy spots are its most favourite places

 

As in all the rest of its family, there are no distinguishable marks of difference in the plumage of the sexes.
The head, occiput, back of the neck, throat, anterior aspect of the neck, and chest, are deep black ; the
circle of naked skin, with a process extending towards the beak, are red; the sides of the neck and whole of
the under parts are white ; the back and wing-coverts are ashy brown with a tinge of vinous, which especially
predominates on the shoulders ; outer scapularies and the lowest coverts white, forming an oblique band
tail white, with a band of black crossing the centre ; bill red at the base, and