on some Species of British Quadrupeds, Birds, and Fishes. 28 L 
In other parts a few have been seen, but always within a few 
miles of the coast ; and it is remarkable, in the very extensive 
tracts of furze with which this country abounds, that we could 
not meet with this bird, except in two or three places. Possibly 
their locality and shyness may have hitherto eluded our search for 
them in the breeding season; and hopes may yet be entertained 
of proving that they actually breed with us, if, as we are assured, 
they do in Provence; for we cannot reconcile their coming to us 
in the winter from a more southern climate. 
Ringed Plover. 
Charadrius Hiaticula. GmeL Syst. p. 683. hid. Orn. ii. p. 748. 
Ringed Plover. Br. Zool ii. No. 811. Lath. Syn. v. p. 201. 
Plover, ringed. Orn. Diction. 
In the Ornithological Dictionary it will be seen that some doubts 
are entertained whether the Alexandrian Plover, Charadrius Alex- 
andriniis of Linnaeus, and the Kentish Plover of Lewin, are not 
really varieties only of the Ringed Plover : such doubts cannot 
but exist with those who have had the same opportunity of exa- 
mining the number of specimens we have at all times of the year; 
and we confess that additional and more recent observations have 
so strengthened our former conjectures, as to leave the mind with 
scarce the shadow of a doubt that they are actually one and the 
same species. 
When the size and weight, the manners and habits of similar 
birds are consulted, and found to be the same ; when the plu- 
mage of such is so nearly alike, except in a few markings, which 
are variable by age and season; when gradations are to be traced 
from the markings of one to that of the other, and when such 
birds always congregate together ; we must be naturally led to 
vol. vii. 2o conjecture, 
