58 A NATURALIST IN THE MAGDALEN ISLANDS. 
62. CHARADRIUS FULVUS var. VIRGINICUS, Borck. 
(GOLDEN PLOVER ) 
Arrives about August 11, and is abundant after August 15. 
The inhabitants state that it is common here until October. 
The American Golden Plover is known to be very closely 
allied to Charadrius fulvus, of Asia, so closely in fact that: 
in some cases it is almost impossible to distinguish them. 
As regards Virginicus, it has the gray axillaries, under 
wing coverts, and slightly feathered tibia, of Charadrius ful- 
vus, and the only difference that is perceptible is a slight 
variation in size. If this difference in size should be con- 
stant, then Charadrius virginicus would constitute a good 
variety if not a species. 
In a large series of Golden Plovers from Asia and Amer- 
ica, as well as from other parts of the world, which it has 
been my good fortune to examine, I do not find any greater 
difference in size than often exists in individuals of the same 
species of some of our common Sandpipers, which no one 
for a moment would think of separating as varieties or 
species on that account. 
