14 



Range in Great Britain. — An accidental visitor only, having 

 occurred four times. In December, 1874, a specimen was pur- 

 chased in Leadenhall Market from among a lot of Golden 

 Plover, which were said to have come from Norfolk. In the 

 autumn of 1882, Mr. J. H. Gurney procured a second example 

 in the same market. In August, 1883, a third occurrence was 

 recorded, in Perthshire, by Mr. J. G. Millais, who also received 

 another Lesser Golden Plover from Stennis, in Orkney, in 

 November, 1887. 



Of these four specimens, the first and last are referred to 

 what has been called the Asiatic race of C. do)ni7iicus^ while 

 the second and third belonged to the American race of the 

 species. The difference between these two races consists in 

 the fact that specimens from Eastern North America are some- 

 what larger, with a wing measuring 6'8-7'5 inches, whereas the 

 wing in the Asiatic race is not more than 67 inches in length. 

 Other characters have been adduced for the separation of these 

 two races, such as the shorter tarsi and toes, and less golden 

 coloration in the American bird. My recent studies on the 

 CharadriidcE have, however, convinced me that no hard and fast 

 line can be drawn between these eastern and western forms, 

 and I consider that there is but one species of Lesser Golden 

 Plover, which must bear the older name of C. doniiniciis. 



Range outside the British Islands. — With the exception of Europe, 

 where the present species is only met with as an occasional 

 visitor, it occurs in nearly every part of the world, breed- 

 ing in the high north and wintering in South America, the 

 Pacific Islands, Australia, and India, but not apparently visit- 

 ing Africa. 



The Lesser Golden Plover has occurred in Heligoland, in 

 Poland, in Malta, and near Malaga, in Spain. 



Habits. — Mr. Seebohm found the nest and eggs of the present 

 species during his expedition to the Yenesei Valley in Siberia, 

 and he describes the note as being very similar to that of the 

 Grey Plover, the commonest note being a plaintive /v, but 

 occasionally the double note kl-ec is heard, but still more often 

 the treble note kl-ee-ko. 



Mr. E. W. Nelson gives the following account of tliis Golden 

 Plover, as observed by him in Alaska : — " The males are con- 



