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845quat. :- Butler, Deccan ; Stray Feathers, Vol. IX, p. 426.

The Caspian Sand Plover.
 

Length, 7.5 ; wing, 5.5 ; tarsus, 1.5 ; bill at front, 0.8.

Bill black ; legs and feet greenish-yellow.

Crown, nape, the whole of the back and wings above hair, brown ; forehead, eyebrows, eyelids, sides of the face and throat pure white; across the breast a broad rufous band, the lowest feathers of which, in some specimens, are terminated by dark umber-brown; thence. to the extremities of the under tail-coverts, pure white ; primaries brownish-black; the shafts of all mesially white ; secondaries long, extending nearly to the end of the primaries; axillaries white ; tail moderately long ; the outer feathers on each side smoke-grey, the others darker in color, as they approach the middle.

The Caspian Sand Plover was obtained by Mr. Vidal in Ratnagiri. It is an exceedingly rare cold weather visitant.

This is the first authentic instance of its occurrence within Indian limits.

 

The Caspian Sand-Plover.

Charadrius asiaticus, Fall. Reis. Buss. Reichs, ii, p. 715 (1773); Seebohm, Charadr. p. 144. Eudromias asiaticus, Hurting, Ibis, 1870, p. 202, pl. v. Aegialitis asiatica, Hume, S. F. vii, p. 438; id. Cat. no. 845 quat.; id. S. F. ix, p. 79 ; Barnes, Birds Bom. p. 329. Ochthodromus asiaticus, Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xxiv, p. 230.

Coloration. In winter plumage the upper parts are brown; forehead, supercilia, lores, cheeks, chin, and throat buffy white ; area behind eye and ear-coverts light brown; primary-coverts, primaries, and secondaries blackish brown, a little white on the outer webs of a few inner primaries near the base; shafts of 1st primary and of subterminal portion of 2nd white, of the 3rd dark throughout; tail-feathers brown, darker near the end and tipped white (the dark subterminal band is more distinct in summer plumage); fore neck and breast brown ; lower breast and abdomen white; wing-lining brown and white mixed; axillaries white.

In summer plumage the fore neck and upper breast are chestnut, passing into blackish on the lower border. Young birds have dull rufous edges to the upper plumage.

Bill black ; iris dusky hazel; feet greenish olive (Emin Pacha).

Length 7.5 ; tail 2 ; wing 5.5 ; tarsus 1.6 ; bill from gape .9.

Distribution. This Sand-Plover breeds on the Caspian and Aral Seas and in Central Asia, and passes the winter in Africa, as far south as Cape Colony. It is also found in the Persian Gulf. The only specimen yet recorded in India was shot by Vidal near Ratnagiri. The present species is an inhabitant of sandy plains as much as of sea-coasts, or may even prefer the former.

 

The Caspian Sand-Plover.

Male 7 1/2". Legs horn. Bill black.— In winter: Crown, nape, and above hair brown. Broad rufous breast-band. Axillaries white. Shaft of first primary and subterminal portion of second white. Shaft of third primary dark throughout. In summer: Above pale brown. No breast-band, but patch dusky grey on each side of breast. Breeds on Caspian and Aral Seas and in C Asia. Winters in Africa. Found in Persian Gulf and occasionally in India. (B. 1444. S.F. vii. 438.)

 

The Caspian Sand-Plover.

Charadrius asiaticus Pall., Reise Russ. Reichs., ii, p. 715 (1773) (South Tartary Steppes). Aegialitis asiatica. Blanf. & Oates, iv, p. 239.

Vernacular names. None recorded.

Description. Forehead, fore-crown, lores and supercilium white; posterior crown to nape, hind-neck and upper parts brown ; the primary coverts and primaries blackish-brown ; the first primary with a white shaft, the second with the shaft whitish near the tip; tail brown, with subterminal blackish band and white tip, the outermost feathers also edged pale whitish-brown ; round the front of the eye brown, extending as a streak through the upper ear-coverts; rest of face, chin, throat and fore-neck white ; upper breast chestnut, followed by a black band on the lower breast; flanks, abdomen, axillaries and under tail-coverts white; under wing-coverts grey-brown and white, the greater coverts all brown.

Colours of soft parts. Iris brown; bill black; legs and feet dusky olive.

Measurements. Wing 141 to 151 mm.; tail 51 to 59 mm.; tarsus about 40 to 42 mm.; culmen 20 to 21.5 mm.

In non-breeding plumage the breast is grey-brown.

Young birds have narrow fulvous edges to the plumage of the upper parts.

Distribution. From the Caspian Sea to Altai, Turkestan and probably the greater part of the high Central Asian plateau. One specimen was obtained by Vidal in the Bombay Presidency near Ratnagiri, whilst in Winter it is found in East and South Africa as far as Cape Colony. Swinhoe obtained it in North China.

Nidification. Buturlin and Sushkin say that it breeds in the Volga district Northwards and in the Turgai Government. The nest is merely a depression scratched in sand or among pebbles on the shores of lakes and big rivers, or in desert wastes. The eggs, three or four in number, are like those of Charadrius hiaticula, "ochreous-brown, boldly spotted and blotched with blackish." One sent to Dresser measured 36.8 x 27.2 mm. The principal breeding month is May.

Habits. This Plover, which seems rare everywhere, does not collect in flocks but may be met with singly or in pairs both on the sea-coasts and on the shores of big rivers and lakes as well as on desert plains and uplands some distance from water. Its note is a plaintive treble whistle.

* As Mathews's name Eupodella, is merely a new name in place of the generic name Eupoda, the type for it must therefore be the same as,for that bird. i. e., Charadrius asiaticus Gould.

 

Charadrius asiaticus Pallas, Reise Russ. Reichs, vol. ii, p. 715, 1773: South Tartary Steppes.

Charadrius caspius Pallas, Zoogr. Rosso-Asiat., vol. ii, p. 136, 1811-27; new name for preceding.

Charadrius jugularis Wagler, Syst. Av., Charad., sp. 39, 1827; new name only.

Charadrius damarensis Strickland in Jardine's Contr. Orn., p. 158, 1852: Damaraland.