GENUS 74. CHARADRIUS. PLOVER. 

 SPECIES 1. C. HMTICULtf. 



RINGED PLOVER.* 

 [Plate XXXVII. Fig. 3.|] 



LATH. 8yn. v,|?.20l.8. Jrcf. Zoof.n,JVo.401. Petit Pluvier, 

 a collier, BUFF, vin, p. 90 6. PL Enl. 921. Pluvialis Tor- 

 quata minor, BRISS. v, p. 63. 8. f . 5. /. 2 TURT, %sf . p. 4 1 1 . 2. 

 PEALE'S Museum, JVo. 4150. 



IT was not altogether consistent with my original plan to 

 introduce any of the Grallae or Waders, until I had advanced 

 nearer to a close with the Land Birds; but as the scenery here 

 seemed somewhat appropriate, I have taken the liberty of plac- 

 ing in it two birds, reduced to one-third of their natural size, 

 both being varieties of their respective species, each of which 

 will appear in their proper places, in some future volume of 

 this work, in full size and in their complete plumage. 



The Ring Plover is very abundant on the low sandy shores 

 of our whole sea-coast, during summer. They run, or rather 

 seem to glide, rapidly along the surface of the flat sands; fre- 

 quently spreading out their wings and tail like a fan, and flut- 

 tering along, to draw or entice one away from their nests. 

 These are formed with little art; being merely shallow conca- 

 vities dug in the sand, in which the eggs are laid, and, during 

 the day at least, left to the influence of the sun to hatch them. 



* Wilson in his account of the following species gives reasons for suppos- 

 ing this bird to be specifically different from the Ring Plover of Plate LIX. 

 It is undoubtedly a distinct species; and has been named by Mr. Ord, Pip- 

 ing Plover C Melodus. The synonymes give,n by our author do not of 

 course apply to this species. 



|. Adult in spring dress. 



