212 THE RINGED PLOVER. 



Of the other enemies of the birds, they are mostly aerial, 

 though occasionally the rats round the shore eat the eggs of the 

 bird. The larger gulls, especially the immature individuals of 

 the species Larus fuscus, Larus marinus, and Larus argentatus, 

 systematically quarter the shores and breeding places for eggs 

 and destroy a considerable number. They will also destroy the 

 very young birds if they can find them, but the protective 

 resemblance is so great that the bulk of them escape. 



The Hen Harrier has also been observed searching for and 

 eating the eggs (Handbook to Brit. Birds, p. 24, R. B. S.). I 

 have myself seen Harriers, presumably the Montagu's Harriers, 

 attack the mature bird, but the velocity with which it flies, 

 twists, and dodges has always resulted in the discomfiture of the 

 Harrier, who has swooped and struck time after time and missed. 



(x.) GENERAL OBSERVATIONS. 



The resident Ringed Plover of Great Britain is a somewhat 

 larger bird than the form inhabiting the continent of Europe, 

 and Mr. Henry Seebohm separated into a distinct race as 

 jEgialitis hiahcula major. Mr. R. Bowdler Sharpe has found 

 that the size of the individuals of this species varies greatly, and 

 that it is impossible to recognise this larger local race as distinct. 

 Small specimens of the Ringed Plover often occur on the 

 southern coast of Great Britain, and are doubtless migrants from 

 the continent of Europe. Some years back we found at Poole 

 a clutch of eggs (one is figured at Plate XV., e\ very much 

 smaller than the average run of eggs, and this clutch was no 

 doubt laid by the smaller variety. 

 Mr. Henry Seebohm gave the following particulars : 



(i.) Small dark race with slender legs and feet ; wing 4-8 

 to 5-2 inches stretch, migratory and widely dis- 

 tributed. 



(ii.) Larger pale race with stouter legs and feet, 5 to 5-3 

 inches wing stretch, resident in Great Britain and 

 the adjoining coasts. 



