wo 
JEGIALITIS CURONICA. 
AAGIALITIS CURONICA (Gmelin). 
LITTLE RING-PLOVER. 
§ 3517. One.—[No history. | 
LS 
L$ 
L$ 
3518. One.—Holland, 1847. | 
3519. One.—Laaland, Denmark, 1856. From Mr. | E. 
Preston’s Sale. | 
3520. Kour—Blois, 1, 2 July, 1859. “EH. N.” 
My brother Edward wrote in his note-book :—“ At the place where I found 
the two nests mentioned before this (§§ 1977 and 2U88), there were three or 
four pairs of Little Ring-Plover. I first discovered them about the beginning 
of June, when I found a pair with two youug ones, about two or three days 
2.0 ee The note of this bird is very dlfferent from that of its large relative, 
and when [| first heard it, I had no idea that it belonged to a Plover of any 
species. The entirely black beak also distinguishes it from the common one. 
The birds were very tame, probably on account of the place they inhabit being 
so much frequented by people who are daily digging sand or gravel. The male 
bird has a ‘song’ when flying, and the movements of the wings during that 
exercise are in every respect the same as in the common species. I believe 
that when I first discovered them, they all had young, as I was not able to 
find any eggs, though I found several old ‘scrapes,’ where evidently they 
had had them; and it was not until the lst of July that I saw a bird running 
which from its manner I was certain had a nest, and on looking I immediately 
found three eggs in a nest, in every way the same as that of the common 
species. On blowing one of the eggs I found that it was quite fresh, so after 
some little hesitation I left the other two eggs. On going to the spot the next 
morning I was delighted to see the old bird again run off the nest, and in it to 
find that there were three eggs. J remained within eyeshot of the nest for 
some time, in hope of seeing the bird come back; but as she could hardly be 
said to have begun sitting she would not do so, and remained about ten yards 
from her eggs on the top of a stone, now and then uttering her plaintive cry. 
After waiting for half an hour I was obliged to take up the eggs to go home. 
I have no doubt that if 1 had had an opportunity of visiting the place again, 
I should have found other nests—the second of the season. When watching 
these birds and remaining perfectly still, they would frequently come within 
five or six yards of where I was sitting, taking advantage of every tuft of grass, 
large stone, or inequality of the ground to approach near to me. When they 
siopped they would generally turn their back towards me, lowering their head, 
so that even though quite close they rendered themselves almost perfectly 
invisible.” | 
