BRITISH BIRDS' NESTS. 293 



PLOVER, GREAT. See CURLEW, STONE. 



PLOVER, KENTISH. 



{.d&gialitis cantiana.) 

 Order LIMICOL.E ; Family CHARADRIID^: (PLOVERS). 



Description of Parent Birds. Length about seven 

 inches. Bill shortish, nearly straight, and black. 

 Irides brown. Forehead and a line running over 

 the eye and ear-coverts white ; middle crown black ; 

 back of head yellowish-brown. A black streak 

 commences at the base of the beak, and passing 

 through the eye, includes the ear-coverts ; nape 

 white ; back, wings, and upper tail-coverts ash- 

 brown, with exception of the wing-primaries, which 

 are dull black, edged with white on, some of the out- 

 side shafts ; tail-quills ash-brown towards the 

 base, dusky-black towards the tip, and white on the 

 outsides ; chin, cheeks, and sides of upper part of 

 neck white ; sides of lower part of neck, just in 

 front of the shoulder or point of the wing, black ; 

 breast, belly, and under-parts white. Legs, toes, 

 and claws dark slate-colour. 



The female differs only in having the black on 

 the head and sides of lower neck less distinct and 

 covering a smaller area. This species may be dis- 

 tinguished from Ringed Plover by smaller size and 

 lighter colours. 



Situation and Locality. In a hollow of the sand 

 or shingle ; sometimes on dry seaweed which has 

 been cast up by the waves. The breeding area of 

 the bird is very limited indeed, and its numbers 

 small. In suitable places along the coast between 

 Hastings and Dover. 



