THE KENTISH PLOVER. 147 



habit of running' some little distance with its wings 

 opened high above its back before it takes wing, and it 

 repeats this action when alighting after flight. 



The note is short, and may bo said to resemlde the 

 syllables " tirr, tirr/^ '^ pitt, pitt/' " pwee, pwee/' 



In common with most birds of t1ie Plover tribe, the 

 Kentish Plover exhibits great artfulness in endeavouring 

 to decoy unwelcome intruders away from her nest, running 

 along on the ground, fluttering about in short and appar- 

 ently feeble flights, and continually uttering short sharp 

 cries — indicative of uneasiness and alarm. The young 

 birds begin to run almost immediately they are hatched, 

 and at this period the parents are extremely solicitous for 

 their safety. 



The entire length of the full-grown bird is about seven 

 inches and three-quarters. The male in summer has the 

 beak black at the point, and orange-yellow at the base; the 

 irides brown ; forehead white, with a black band reaching 

 to the eyes on each side; lore, space under the eyes, and 

 ear-coverts black ; below this, and all round the neck, is a 

 collar of white, and then a collar of black ; the top of the 

 head and back of the neck is yellowish-brown ; the back, 

 wing-coverts, and tertials are brown ; the wing-coverts are 

 tipped with white : this marking forms a continuous white 

 bar, which is very conspicuous during flight ; the primaries 

 nearly black ; upper tail-coverts and base of tail a ^^ hair '' 

 brown, merging into greyish-black towards the end ; 

 the outer feather on each side of the tail is pure white ; 

 chin and throat white; breast, belly, and vent white, 

 also the under tail-coverts ; legs and toes orange ; claws 

 black. 



Adult females in summer have the bands and collars 



