CHARADRIUS. RING-PLOVER. 115 



hexagonal scales. Toes rather short, slender, three, with 

 numerous scutella, marginate, the outer considerably longer 

 than the inner, and connected with the third by a basal 

 web. (Haws rather short, compressed, slightly arched, 

 slender, rather acute. 



Plumage ordinary, close, rather blended ; feathers oblong 

 or ovate. Wings very long, narrow, 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 extremely 

 elongated. Tail straight, rather broad, of moderate length 

 or long, rounded in various degrees, of twelve feathers, of 

 which the two middle are somewhat pointed. 



The species of this genus are very extensively distributed, 

 and some one or other occurs in almost every known region. 

 They frequent chiefly the sandy shores of the sea, lakes, and 

 rivers ; but some occur also in the interior, chiefly on dry 

 barren grounds. After the breeding season, they often form 

 large flocks. Their nests are a slight hollow in the sand, 

 sometimes with a few vegetable substances, and their eggs 

 are four, pyriform, extremely large, light-coloured, and 

 dotted or clouded with dusky tints. The young, covered 

 with down, run presently after birth, and conceal themselves 

 by squatting. All the species are very active and lively, 

 run with great celerity, have a very rapid flight, and emit a 

 clear, mellow cry. Their food consists of insects, Crustacea, 

 mollusca, and worms. Their flesh is good, and their eggs 

 delicate. One species is common and resident in Britain, 

 another occurs on the sands of the southern and eastern 

 counties of England, and a third has been met with only in 

 one or two instances. 



The Ring-Plovers have the body, and especially the 

 Avings and tail, more elongated than the Plovers, the neck 

 shorter, and the head proportionally larger. White and 

 grey or brown, in masses, are their predominant colours ; 

 and all are broadly banded or ringed on the head and neck. 

 Their lower parts do not become black in spring and 

 summer, as is the case with the Plovers ; nor is their 

 plumage ever spotted or striped like theirs. 



