THE RINGED PLOVER 193 



as if fully conscious that they were far more likely to escape 

 detection when left to themselves. I have found numbers 

 of nests on one small stretch of beach, always on the sand, 

 and the whole time the birds have been in little parties, run- 

 ning up and down the shore without showing any sign of 

 uneasiness. In the hot June days the birds do not sit on 

 their eggs much in the daytime, and probably the sun 

 materially helps in hatching them. When the young are 

 hatched, however, the behaviour of the Einged Plovers is very 

 different ; and by many a wary artifice they strive to draw 

 all attention upon themselves, until the downy chicks have 

 had time to hide in the nooks and crannies on the beach. 

 The bare sand is now deserted, and the old birds try to keep 

 their young as much as possible upon the shingly shore, where 

 they are least conspicuous. I do not think more than one 

 brood is reared in the season ; but if the first lot of eggs be 

 destroyed another clutch is laid, and then the young are of 

 necessity much later in their appearance. 



I cannot leave this favourite little bird of mine without 

 calling the reader's attention to the fact that there appear to 

 be two races of it inhabiting this country. The larger bird is 

 found on our coasts at all seasons, but the smaller variety is 

 migratory and only visits us in the summer. I have examined 

 many specimens of both races, and the differences are very 

 marked when the birds are viewed side by side. Much 

 confusion still exists, and the matter is well worthy the 

 attention of the field naturalist, as very probably the smaller 

 and migratory bird differs in habits, in voice, and haunts 

 from its larger and resident congener. 



Two other species belonging to the group of Plovers of 

 which the Einged Plover is typical must here be noticed. 

 The first of these, the Kentish Plover (Charadrius cantianus), 

 distinguished by having the back of the head and the nape 

 buff, and the black collar only represented by a patch on 



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