CHARADRIID^ — THE PLOVERS — CHARADRIL'S. 145 



connection upwards of thirty specimens, the greater number being from the Pacific islands. Meas- 

 urements of a part of this series (other specimens not being available ibr the purpose) give the 

 following results : — Seven specimens from Alaska: Wing, 6.25-6.80, average, 6.49 ; culmen, .85- 

 .95, average, .89; tarsus, 1.70-1.85, averaj^e, 1.76; middle toe, .85-90, average, .89. Sixteen 

 specimens from Pacific islands, India, and China: Wing, 6.10-6.80, average, 6.36; culmen, .85- 

 1.00, average .93 ; tarsus, 1.55-1.85, average, 1.69 ; middle toe, .85-95, average, .91. The average 

 of the whole series is as given above. 



In the collection there is one specimen (No. 1853) labelled " Charadrius pluviaUs,^'' received 

 from Aug. Lefevre, Paris, and supposed to have been obtained in France — although this is not 

 asserted on the original label — which bears, beside the name, only the inscription, "prenant livn'e 

 d'ete." It is typical fulvus, having smoky gray axillars, and measuring as follows : Wing, 6.00 ; 

 culmen, .92 ; tarsus, 1.70 ; middle toe, .90. It is an adult in changing plumage. 



A single specimen of tliis Asiatic species was procured by Mr. Elliott on tlie Pry- 

 bilof Islands, thus first giving it a place in the fauna of North America.^ This 

 example was taken on the Island of St. Paul's, May 2, 1873. Mr. Elliott states that 

 a few stragglers land in April or early in May on their way north to breed, but never 

 remain long. They return in greater numbers the latter part of September, and grow 

 fat upon the larvse generated on the killing-grounds of the fur seal, and leave for 

 the south by the end of October. Numerous specimens taken on the coast of Alaska 

 are in the National Museum. This species is very closely allied to the virginianus, 

 so that Drs. Hartlaub and Finsch regard it as very probable that they are identical 

 species. "^ 



Mr. Dresser, in his account of this bird, refers to sj)ecimens taken in Northeastern 

 Africa on the Red Sea, in Siberia, India, Ceylon, Malacca, Java, Banca, Borneo, 

 Timor, Batchian, Australia, Hainan, Formosa, China, and also to one from the Arctic 

 seas, killed in lat. 69° 30' N., long. 173° 20' E., Sept. 3, 1852, and nearer the American 

 than the Asiatic shore. It also occasionally extends its range into Europe, having 

 once been seen at Heligoland and twice at Malta. It Avill thus be seen either to be 

 a great wanderer or to have quite an extended range. 



It is without doubt this bird that is referred to by Pallas as C.pluvlalis. By that 

 traveller it is spoken of as being rare in the northern parts of Russia, but exceedingly 

 common in Siberia, whence it migrates in the autumn in flocks to more southern 

 localities in company with the Dotterel. It was met with on the banks of small 

 rivers and in cattle x^astures. Steller is quoted as having taken it in Kamtschatka 

 in autumn. 



Mr. Dresser states that it breeds within the Arctic Circle. Micldendorlf observed 

 it on the tundras of the Taimyr, in lat. 74° N., in full summer plumage. The birds 

 were gathered in large flocks on the 4th of June, and had eggs by the 17th. They 

 assembled on the 2d of August, on Lake Taimyr, to return, and none were seen after 



and another, in nearl)' complete summer dress, from Shanghai, China (No. 85742, April 21, 1881 ; Shanghai 

 Museum). Upon close comparison of these specimens with exam])les in corresponding plumage from 

 North America, we cannot see that they differ in the minutest particular as regards coloration. They are, 

 however, decidedly shorter winged, their measurements being, respectively, as follows : — 



Wing. Culmen. Tarsus. Middle Toe. 



No. 71561, (J, New South Wales, 6.30 .95 1.65 1.00 



No. 85742, $, Shanghai, 6.55 1.02 1.75 .95 



Average of C dominicus, 7.09 .91 1.70 .90 



1 Since the above was penned by Dr. Brewer, numerous Alaskan specimens have been received at the 

 U. S. National Museum, collected by Messrs. Turner and Nelson, and others, chiefly at St. Michael's, 

 Norton Sound. — R. R. 



VOL. I. — 19 



