232 THE NESTS AND EGGS OF 



Family CHARADRIID^. Genus Charadrius. 



Sub-family CHAKADRIINAL. 



GRAY PLOVER. 



Charadrius helveticus {Brissofi). 



(British : Common spring and autumn coasting migrant ; few in 



winter.) 



Single Brooded. Laying season, latter half of June, and eaily 



in July. 



Breeding area : Northern Nearctic and Pal?earctfc 

 regions. The Gray Plover is only known to breed on 

 the tundras above the limits of forest growth in the 

 valley of the Petchora, on the Taimyr peninsula, and 

 in the delta of the Lena ; and in North America in 

 Alaska, on the banks of the Anderson river, and on 

 Melville peninsula. 



Breeding habits : The Gray Plov^er is a regular 

 migrant to the Arctic regions, where it breeds, reaching 

 them during the latter half of May or early in June. 

 During winter and whilst on passage this Plover is 

 gregarious, but at the breeding places the birds distri- 

 bute themselves in scattered pairs, which nest in more 

 or less close proximity, the males being social and often 

 seen in small parties. The birds pair annually, and not 

 apparently until they reach their destinations. The 

 favourite breeding grounds of this Plover are the tundras 

 and barren grounds between the limits of forest growth 

 and the Arctic Ocean, especially such portions as are 

 swampy and covered with ridges. Previous to 1875 

 the breeding habits of the Gray Plover were but little 

 known, and eggs were very rare in collections. The 

 first authentic eggs were those taken by Von Midden- 

 dorff, on the Taimyr peninsula, in 1843. In 1864 Mac 

 Farlane obtained eggs on the tundras near the Arctic 



