COMMON RING-PLOVER. 119 



Changes of Plumage. — If this species undergoes a partial 

 moult in spring, no difference is produced in the distribution 

 of the colours. In summer, the dark markings are deeper, 

 on account of the disappearance of the greyish tips, and the 

 brownish-grey of the upper parts is paler. Towards autumn, 

 however, the colours become much faded. A male and a 

 female shot at Ythan Mouth on the 26th of May present the 

 following particulars : — 



Male in Summer. — Upper parts light greyish-brown ; 

 frontal and cheek bands and collar deep brownish-black. 



The tongue slender, tapering, concave above, horny and 

 thin-edged toward the bluntish tip ; oesophagus 3 inches long, 

 -py in width ; proventriculus bulbiform ; stomach very mus- 

 cular, -}-§- long, -jV in its greatest breadth, its epithelium 

 dense and rugose; intestine 16 in length, -^ in its greatest 

 width ; cceca 1-^- long, cylindrical, obtuse, lyV from the 

 extremity. 



Length 8^; extent of wings 16^; wing from flexure 5^-; 

 tail 2-L£; bill along the ridge -fy, along the edge of lower 

 mandible ^; tarsus 1 ; middle toe fy; its claw ^-. 



Female in Summer. — Similar to the male ; only with 

 the white frontal band, and that over and behind the eye, of 

 less extent ; the black collar of a lighter tint ; the dark band 

 on the tail narrower. 



The oesophagus 3 inches long ; stomach \% in length, 

 -Jj in breadth ; intestine 16 in length, 1£ in width ; cceca 

 1^, at the distance of 1-jL- from the extremity. The stomach 

 was filled entirely with remains of small coleoptera and 

 some sand. 



Length 8^ ; extent of wings 16|- ; wing from flexure 

 5^ ; tail 2|4f- ; bill along the ridge ^-, along the edge of 

 lower mandible -^ ; tarsus 1 ; middle toe -j^-, its claw 1 V. 



I do not find a single new feather in either of these birds. 



Habits. — Were I to describe the manners of this gentle 

 creature under the influence of the delightful emotions which 

 the view of it has often excited in me, I should probably 



