410 CHARADRIID.E. 



shores or not, it may now reasonably claim a place in tlie 

 Fauna of our Island, and we are glad of the opportunity of 

 introducing it to the notice of British Ornithologists, and still 

 more so that the only British-killed specimen should have 

 fallen into the hands of an individual so zealous in the collec- 

 tion of our native birds as the gentleman above mentioned." 

 On the Continent it is by no means a scarce bird. M. 

 Nilsson says that both this species and the Kentish Plover 

 occasionally visit Sweden in summer. M. Temminck says it 

 is found in Germany, and the central portions of Europe ; it 

 inhabits Provence and Italy ; the Zoological Society have 

 received specimens sent by Messrs. Dickson and Ross from 

 Erzeroom, where it appears to be numerous about the middle 

 of June on the sandy and pebbly banks of the Aras at 

 Hassan Kaleh, eighteen miles east of Erzeroom ; and M. 

 Temminck includes it among the Birds of Japan. 



This species bears considerable resemblance to the Ringed 

 Plover, Ch. hiaticula, and is likely to be occasionally over- 

 looked ; it is, however, to be distinguished readily, on exa- 

 mination, by its smaller size ; its much more slender form, 

 being one fourth lighter in weight ; its black beak, its more 

 slender and lighter-coloured legs, by the broad white shaft 

 of the first quill-feather only of each wing ; and by the dusky 

 spot which is present at all ages on the inner web of the 

 outer tail-feather on each side, which feather in the Ringed 

 Plover is wholly white, without any spot, and there are two 

 white feathers on each outside of the tail in the Kentish 

 Plover. 



M. Temminck says that the Little Ringed Plover exhibits 

 some difference in its habits also, preferring the sides of 

 rivers rather than the shores of the sea. On this point also 

 Mr. Hoy, who has attended to the distinguishing peculiari- 

 ties of this species on the Continent, remarks, " The Little 

 Plover appears to be very rarely found on the sea coast ; but 



