748 Mr. T). A. Bamierman on the [Ibis, 



known to breed in the islands. The return migration takes 

 place in September, Octoberj and November. 



In the spring migration northwards the earliest date upon 

 which I have noted the appearance in Gran Can aria is 

 10 January, 1911 (Ibis, 1912, p. 583); this, however, 

 is an unusually early record, and these birds may have 

 remained in the island since the autumn migration. The 

 following 5'ear, when in this island during the whole of 

 February, none were noticed until the 23rd of the month 

 {I.e.). 



Meade-Waldo found them in Fuerteventura on 31 March, 

 1888, and again on the 6th of April of the same year, when 

 he remarks they were scarce (MS. diaries). 



Polatzek records them as not rare in spring as a bird of 

 passage (Orn. Jahrb. 1909, p. 128). 



I found a few Ringed Plovers on the reefs at Toston, 

 Fuerteventura, as late as 6-10 May, 1913. but nowhere else 

 on the coast (Ibis, 1914, pp. 46, 282). 



The movement again takes place in the autumn, when 

 Meade-Waldo noticed tliat the Ringed Plovers arrived regu- 

 larly in the islands on their passage north (Ibis, 1893, p. 203). 

 The earliest date which I have recorded is 5 September 

 (1910), birds which were shot then in Gran Canaria being 

 now in the liritish Museum (Ibis, 1912, p. 583), 



Meade-Waldo noted them from 23-25 October at Orotava, 

 Tenerife, and remarks that they were fairly common 

 (MS. diaries). 



Curiously enough, all the specimens which I have shot in 

 the Canary Islands have been immature birds. I have come 

 to the conclusion that the Ringed Plover which passes 

 through the Canaries is the large race mentioned by Seebohm 

 and which I recognize as distinct. 



Range. The large typical I'ace of the Ringed Plover breeds 

 from arctic America to central Europe and winters from 

 the Mediterranean basin to the Cape. Specimens have been 

 examined by Dr. Lowe and myself from Greenland, Iceland, 

 France, Portugal, Gibraltar, and the Canaries ; they winter 

 down the west African coast to the Cape. 



