KENTISH PLOVER 



73 



Devon and Cornwall, while specimens (probably late immigrants from 

 the Continent) have been taken in East Anglia in autumn, and it has 

 also been observed in Yorkshire, to the north of which it appears to 

 be unknown. It is not recorded from North Wales ; and in Ireland 

 it is known only as an extremely rare visitor to the cast coast during 

 the autumn-migration. Denmark and the south of Sweden seem to 

 mark its northern breeding-range in Europe ; and it has also been 

 known to breed as far south as Algeria, Egypt, Smyrna, the Persian 

 Gulf, Ceylon, and Formosa, from all of which localities the British 

 Museum possesses specimens of the eggs. 



From the ringed plover and its lesser relative, the Kentish plover, 

 which measures about 6k inches in length, is distinguished by the 

 occurrence in the cock of a 

 partial change in the colour 

 of the plumage at the com- 

 mencement of the breed- 

 ing season, as well as by the 

 black legs and feet, and the 

 replacement of the broad 

 black gorget by an incom- 

 plete one, forming a patch 

 (black in the cock, and brown 

 in the hen) on each side of 

 the neck. In summer the 

 general colour of the upper- 

 parts in the cock is pale 

 brown, relieved by bright 



rufous (darkening on the nape) on the crown of the head, between 

 which and the white of the forehead is a black bar, while, in addition 

 to the aforesaid patch on each side of the breast, there is a black spot 

 in front of the eye, and a similar patch on the ear-coverts, the throat 

 and under-parts being white, as are the shaft of the first primary quill 

 and parts of those of the rest. In winter the cock loses the bright 

 rufous tint and the black marking's on the head more or less com- 

 pletely, while the breast-patch fades to brown ; the bird in this dress 

 being very similar to the hen at all seasons. Birds of the year 

 resemble the adult hens except that the feathers of the upper-parts 

 are pale -edged. The chick is somewhat darker and more closely 

 mottled than that of the ringed plover, and lacks the longitudinal 

 head-stripe. 



In general habits the Kentish plover resembles the ringed plover. 



■..^ " 



HE ROWLAND ' 



KKNTISH I'LOVKU 



