VANELLUS.
Crested ; wings rounded, 1st, znd, 3rd and 4th primaries nearly equal ; hind toe present.
Vaneihis vanellus (L.). Er. \Tonneau ; Ger.
Kichitz ; Pavoncella ; Tofspiva. • ? Above metallic green with purple reflections ; crown, crest, throat and chest black ; upper and under tail coverts cinnamon ; basal half white, remainder black with narrow brownish tip; sides of neck and underparts below chest white. Bill black. Legs and feet slaty black. Wing 218-237. Tarsus 45-49. Bill 22-25.
Breeds.—British Isles, Faroes, Continental Europe from C. Norway, 62' in N. Russia and 59' in Urals south to Mediterranean and Caucasus (not in Greece, S. Italy, or Mediterranean Islands) ; N. Morocco ; and widely in Asia. Migrates ; winters in Mediter ranean Basin, N. Africa, Egypt and S. Asia to Japan ; many remain in British Isles and W. Europe ; occurs Madeira and Canaries but not common. Rare visitor to Azores and Iceland.