106 PLUVIALIS MORINELLUS. 



the secondaries and their coverts light greyish-brown, the 

 outer margined and tipped with white. There is a broad 

 transverse band or half ring of white, at the junction of the 

 neck and breast, edged above with black, and beneath with 

 an interrupted narrower dusky band. The sides and fore 

 part of the breast are deep yellowish-red ; on its hind part 

 is a large patch of black ; the abdomen and loAver tail-coverts 

 yellowish- white. The tail-feathers are brownish-grey, toAvard 

 the end dark brown, glossed with green, excepting the two 

 middle tipped with white, the lateral more extensively, and 

 with its outer margin white. 



Length to end of tail 10 inches ; extent of wings 19 ; wing 

 from flexure 6^ ; tail 2-|4; bill along the ridge -fV, along the 

 edge of lower mandible \^; tarsus 1^-; inner toe T 7 T , its 

 claw j 3 2 ; middle toe -L2-, its claw T V; outer toe ^-, its claw* ^-. 



Female. — The colours are similar to those of the male, 

 but paler. The top of the head is deep brown, streaked with 

 yellowish-white ; the yellowish-brown of the breast is mixed 

 with white feathers, and the deep brown of the hind part of 

 the breast is nearly supplanted by white. The lower surface 

 of the wings in both is pale grey. 



Length to end of tail 9^ inches ; extent of wings 18^ ; 

 wing from flexure 6yV; tail 2yV; bill along the ridge -j^-; 

 tarsus 1^; inner toe -f^, its claw j\; middle toe -^V, its 

 claw -y^; outer toe yV, its claw -,3^. 



Variations. — I have not observed any remarkable vari- 

 ations in adult birds, although I have examined a consider- 

 able number of individuals. The above descriptions are 

 taken from two fresh specimens shot near Edinburgh on the 

 19th of May, 1824, and compared with a pair obtained near 

 Haddington in July, 1835. 



Habits. — The Dotterel makes its appearance in various 

 parts of England and Scotland, at two different seasons of 

 the year ; first, on its way northward, in April and May, and 

 again, on its return, in September and October. It does not 

 appear that individuals remain in this country after November. 



