PIPING PLOVER. 365 



Not only is the true G. Maticula of Europe not found on the Ame 

 rican continent, but the birds hitherto mistaken for it constitute two 

 very distinct and exclusively American species, notwithstanding the 

 awkward quotations in the new edition of Cuvier's RSgne Animal, 

 which, in this instance, as in several others, is as far behind its age as 

 the former was in advance of it. 



Although the never too much lamented Wilson gave, in his fifth 

 volume, the present bird as a variety of which he intended figuring the 

 type in a future part of his work, when he came to it in his seventh 

 volume, he clearly and positively pointed out the difference in markings, 

 habits, migrations, and voice, between the two which he then considered 

 as distinct species : he thus in reality established the species, and indeed 

 80 well, that we cannot do better than refer to his conclusive reasonings. 

 The only essential point he omitted was to impose a name on his species, 

 which he undoubtedly would have done had he lived to publish himself 

 the index to the water birds, as, in some instance, he supplied similar 

 deficiencies for the land birds. Mr. Ord has, however, filled this void 

 by calling the bird C. melodus, which appropriate name we feel bound 

 to adopt ; and the more so, as Mr. Ord informs us that it would have 

 been Wilson's own choice. Almost simultaneously with our endeavors in 

 this country for permanently fixing the species, Dr. Wagler in Europe, 

 on his part, was also giving it a name, so that it is now furnished with 

 two. 



In the circumstance of its inner toe being cleft to the base, this 

 bird approaches more closely to 0. hiatieula of Europe, than to O. 

 gemipalmatus ; but in colors it difiers greatly from these so similar 

 species, and the membrane that connects the outer toe is considerably 

 smaller than in any. The synonyms of AVilson do not of course apply 

 to this new species ; and what is worse, though this is commom to all 

 writers upon the Ring-Plover, they do not belong to one and the same 

 species. 



Although, without doubt, related to the Tringce, which are Scolopacidce, 

 the Plovers belong to another family, that of the Pressirostres of Cuvier 

 — which may be called Charadridce — and through Otis and (Edicnemiis 

 these Waders are connected somewhat with the Gallinaceous birds. 

 This natural family of ours, very difi"erent from the artificial one formed 

 by so many authors for the three-toed Waders indiscriminately, and 

 adopted under the name Oharadriadoe by the new English school, 

 though professing to adhere to a natural arrangement — is well distin- 

 guished by its short (or moderately so) rather robust bill, the hind toe 

 wanting, or when present, very short. It is composed of but eight 

 genera, of which only three are found in North America, two aberrant, 

 and the present, the only typical American, which is well distinguished 

 by its bill, very short rounded, obtuse, and somewhat turgid at tip. In 



