on some Species of British Quadrupeds, Birds, and Fishes. 28 1 



In other parts a few have, been seen, but always within a few 

 miles of the coast; and it is remarkable, in the very extensive 

 tracts of furze with which this country abounds, that we could 

 not meet with this bird, except in two or three places. Possibly 

 their locality and shyness may have hitherto eluded our search for 

 them in the breeding season; and hopes may yet be entertained 

 of proving that they actually breed with us, if, as we are assured, 

 they do in Provence; for we cannot reconcile their coming to us 

 in the winter from a more southern climate. 



Ringed Plover. 

 Charadrius Hiaticula. Gmel. Syst. p. 683. Lid. Om. ii. p. 748. 

 Ringed Plover. Br. Zool. ii. No. 211. Lath. Si/n. v. p. 201. 

 Plover, ringed. Om. Diction. 



In the Ornithological Dictionary it will be seen that some doubts 

 are entertained whether the Alexandrian Plover, Charadrius Alex- 

 andrinus of Linnaeus, and the Kentish Plover of Lewin, are not 

 really varieties only of the Ringed Plover : such doubts cannot 

 but exist with those who have had the same opportunity of exa- 

 mining the number of specimens we have at all times of the year; 

 and we confess that additional and more recent observations have 

 so strengthened our former conjectures, as to leave the mind with 

 scarce the shadow of a doubt that they are actually one and the 

 same species. 



When the size and weight, the manners and habits of similar 

 birds are consulted, and found to be the same ; when the plu- 

 mage of such is so nearly alike, except in a tew markings, which 

 are variable by age and season; when gradations are to be traced 

 from the markings of one to that of the other, and when such 

 birds always congregate together ; we must be naturally led to 



V0L ' vir - 2o conjecture. 



