o^ r.ini) (^ vi.i,Kii\ . 



Of the ^4iciif(riiiiic, ihc '[\\rn:>to\w {Arenuria iiilcrjjns) (522), one of 

 the commonest of our shore birds, is ahnost cosmopolitau iu its rauge, 

 nesting iu the Arctic regions of both Hcmisplieres and ranging south 

 ahnost as far as hind extends. It gains its trivial name of "Turnstone"' 

 from its habit of turning over stones to secure the small erustaeea hidiug 

 beneath them. 



The Oyster-catchers or '' Scu-Vic^" (U(Ciii(/foj>o«l//ia') (523 525},\\liicli 

 lia^e the legs reticulated both in front and behind, derive their name 

 IVom their stipposcd hal)it of Iceding on oysters. They, however, live 

 ihietly on mussels, whelks, aiul other shell-fish, which are seooj)ed from 

 their shells by the bird's powerful bill. The common Oyster-catcher 

 (H<('iiiatupHx o.s/ra/('f/iis) (525) is a familiar British species, breeding on 

 the shores and sandy beds of rivers, and depositing its eggs iu a slight 

 depression in the ground. As will be seen from the specimen of 

 //. iinicolur (523) in the Case, some species are entirely black. 



Passing over the Pe/lu/ii/a/i/ue, which includes only the Austialian 

 Dotterel [Peltohijax uustrulis) (533), we come to the True Plovers 

 [Charadriiiue) \\hich include a number of well-know u forms many of 

 which are found on the List of Eritish 15ird>. 



Commencing on the right-hand side of the tilth shelf we Hnd the very 

 singular Wry-billed Plover (Aitar/ti/ncliux froitlulis) (532) of New 

 Zealand, which has the bill twisted towards the right, an adaptation 

 which enables the bird to ]nck uj* insects hiding under stones. 



The Hinged (527) and Kentish (529) Plovers [PI. VI.], Dotterel 

 (533), (iolden Plover (546), and Lapwing (544). are all well-known 

 British birds and breed in our islands; the Little Iviuged (528) and 

 Grey Plovers (541) arc regular visitors on migration, and the Kildeer 

 (534), Caspian (537l, and American Golden (547) Plovers are 

 oc<-asional stragglers to our shores. The Dotterel ( F.tidroiittaa iiwrineUus) 

 (535), one of the most beautiful of the Plovers, was at one time a 

 fairly common British bird, but its nundicrs have greatly decreased 

 of recent years. The Grey Plover (Sqtiataro/a licivetica) (541 ) and 

 the Golden Plover [Vharndruts jibtrhdh) (546) are conspicuous for the 

 marked changes of plumage during the summer and winter months. The 

 Lapwing, Peewit, or Green Plover {Vanellus rmivllits) (544) is perhaps 

 the best known bird of the group on account of its eggs beiug so highly 

 prized as table delicacies. The young of this species (545) exhibited in 

 the Case show the protective nature of the colour iu the nestling down. 

 • [Case i^8.] A uumber of the Plovers have the sides of the face in front of the 

 eye ornamented by brightly coloured wattles, which hang down on each 

 side of the bill, and some have a strong spur situated at the bend of the 

 wing and used as a formidable weapon of offence. As an example of 

 those with facial wattles onlv, we mav draw attention to tin- Crested- 



