414 CLASS XVI. 



adult bird a white band above the breast. In some small European species 

 the summer plumage does not differ from that of winter, or they moult 

 only once a year; C/iaradrius hiaticula L., BUFF. PL enl. 920, LESS. 

 Ornith. PI. 93, fig. i, the ringed plover, occasionally on the Dutch coast, 

 as also Charadrius minor, the little ringed plover ; in England the former 

 species is common, the last very rare. 



This genus, though forming a part only of that of LINN.EUS, is very 

 numerous in species from all parts of the world. 



Hoplopterus BONAP. Wings spurred, with second and third 

 quills longest. 



Sp. Charadrius spinosus L., under which name two species have been con- 

 founded, both from Africa; the largest of the two, BUFF. PL enl. So i, is 

 Vanellus melasomus SWAINSON, Birds of Western Africa, n. 1837, PI. 26. 



Squatarola Cuv., GRAY, (species of Tringa L., ILLIG.). Bill 

 moderate, thick. Feet tetradactylous ; hallux short or very short, 

 raised. (Other characters nearly those of the preceding genus. 

 Add genus Aphriza AUDUB., GRAY.) 



Sp. Squatarola varia nob., Tringa squatarola, Tringa helvetica and Tringa 

 varia L., Charadrius squatarola NAUM., BRISS. Ornith. V. PI. 9, figs, i, 2, 

 BUFF. PL enl. 853, 854, 923, NAUM. Taf. 178; grey plover, grey sand- 

 piper; white, brown and black spots ; the summer plumage is, in the male 

 especially, deep black under the neck, on the breast and the belly. Some 

 writers refer this species to Charadrius, but most to Vanellus; it belongs, 

 however, to neither of these two, but stands in some degree between them, 

 nearest in our opinion to Charadrius. It occurs in Europe, Africa (to the 

 Cape of Good Hope) and Asia, and is also met with in North America. 



Vanellus BRISS., BECHST., TEMM., Cuv. (Tringa ILL., excl. 

 Tringa varia; species of Tringa L.) Bill slender, straight, shorter 

 than head. Nostrils placed in lateral groove, covered by membrane, 

 opening by a longitudinal fissure. Feet tetradactylous, with hallux 

 small, raised ; tarsi covered anteriorly with transverse scutella ; outer 

 toes joined at base by membrane. Wings with first quill shorter, 

 second and third subequal, longest of all. Tail even, broad. 



Sp. Vanellus cristatus MEYER and WOLF, Tringa vanellus L., BUFF. PL enL 

 242, LESS. Ornith. PI. 95, fig. i, NAUM. Taf. 179; the peewit, le vanneau, 

 der Kibitz (the English and German names borrowed from the note of the 

 bird, which BUFFON compares with the French word dix-huit). This bird 

 eats worms and insects, and lays three or four olive-coloured eggs, with 

 black spots, and sharp pointed, on the ground, on a layer of straw or fibres 

 of roots; the eggs are much prized. This bird occurs in Europe, North 

 Africa, and a part of Asia. 



