PLUVIALIS. PLOVER. 85 



emarginate and papillate at the base, deeply channelled 

 above, sub-trigonal, pointed. (Esophagus narrow, without 

 dilatation ; proventriculus small, with a belt of oblong glan- 

 dules. Stomach a rather large muscular gizzard, of an ellip- 

 tical compressed form, with strong lateral muscles, radiated 

 tendons, and dense longitudinally rugous epithelium. In- 

 testine long, and narrow ; cceca small, cylindrical, and very 

 narrow. 



Nostrils small, linear, pervious, sub-basal, near the 

 margin. Eyes large and full ; both eyelids densely feathered. 

 Aperture of ear rather large, roundish. Feet of moderate 

 length, very slender ; the tibia long, bare for nearly a fourth ; 

 tarsus of ordinary length, anteriorly and laterally covered 

 with numerous hexagonal scales. Toes rather short and 

 slender, three before, in one instance a rudimentary hind 

 toe, the third and fourth connected at the base by a web, all 

 margined and with numerous narrow scutella. Claws rather 

 short, compressed, slightly arched, slender, obtuse. 



Plumage ordinary, close, rather blended ; feathers oblong. 

 Wings long and pointed, of twenty-five quills ; the primaries 

 tapering, the first longest, the rest rapidly diminishing ; the 

 outer secondaries short, incurved, and obliquely rounded, the 

 inner tapering and much elongated. Tail straight, slightly 

 arched at the base, rather broad, nearly even, of twelve 

 feathers, of which the two middle are somewhat pointed. 



The species of this genus are very widely distributed, and 

 one of them is common to both continents. They form large 

 flocks after the breeding season, and generally betake them- 

 selves in cold weather to the shores of the sea or their 

 vicinity. They run with celerity, have a rapid flight, and 

 emit a loud shrill whistle, sometimes modulated. Their food 

 consists of coleopterous and other insects, worms, mollusca, 

 small Crustacea, and sometimes berries. The nest is a slight 

 hollow in the ground ; the eggs four, pyriform, extremely 

 large, and spotted or clouded. The young run about imme- 

 diately after birth, and conceal themselves by squatting. 

 The flesh of these birds is excellent, and their eggs delicious. 

 One species is very common in Britain, another breeds there 

 in small numbers, and the third is a winter visitant. 



