504 CHARADRinXE. 



wing ; and by the dusky spot which is present at all ages 

 on the inner web of the outer tail-feather on each side, 

 which feather in the Ringed Plover is wholly white, with- 

 out any spot, and there are two white feathers on each out- 

 side of the tail in the Kentish Plover. 



M. Temminck says that the Little Ringed Plover ex- 

 hibits some difference in its habits also, preferring the sides 

 of rivers rather than the shores of the sea. On this point 

 also Mr. Hoy, who has attended to the distinguishing 

 peculiarities of this species on the Continent, remarks, 

 "The Little Plover appears to be very rarely found on the 

 sea coast ; but frequents in preference the banks of rivers, 

 where it breeds. It lays its eggs on the sand, not a particle 

 of grass, or other material being used. It is very partial to 

 sand banks, forming islands, which are often met with in 

 some of the larger rivers of the Continent. It may also 

 frequently be found during the breeding-season upon those 

 large extents of sand, which are met with at some little 

 distance from the borders of rivers, overgrown in part with 

 a coarse wiry grass." 



The egg of this bird is figured by Mr. Hewitson, from 

 whose excellent work the previous extract was made. The 

 egg measures one inch and one-eighth in length, by seven- 

 eighths of an inch in breadth ; it is of a pale yellowish 

 stone colour, with numerous small spots of three colours, 

 bluish ash, red brown, and dark brown. I have also seen 

 an egg of this bird in the collection of Lady Rachel Russell, 

 of which I was permitted to have a drawing. This example 

 exactly agrees with the egg figured by Mr. Hewitson in 

 size, colours, and markings ; the spots being only less nu- 

 merous, but rather larger. 



The food is similar to that of the other two species, 

 namely, aquatic insects in their various stages, and small 

 worms. 



