FAMILY XVII. 



PJtZSSIR O S TRES, CUVIBR. 



GENUS X.XXIX.. CHARADRIUS, LINNAEUS. 



SUBGENUS I CHARADRIUS, LINNAEUS. 



193. CHARADRIUS MELODUS, BONAPARTE. 



CHARADRJUS HIATICULA, WILSON. RINGED PLOVER. 



WILSON, PLATE XXXVII. FIG. III. ADULT. 

 EDINBURGH COLLEGE MUSEUM. 



THE ringed 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, frequently spreading out their wings 

 and tail like a fan, and fluttering along, to draw or 

 entice one away from their nests. These are formed 

 with little art, being merely shallow concavities 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. The parents, however, always remain near the 

 spot to protect them from injury, and, probably, in cold, 

 rainy, or stormy weather, to shelter them with their 

 bodies. The eggs are three, sometimes four, large for 

 the bird, of a dun clay colour, and marked with nume- 

 rous small spots of reddish purple. 



The voice of these little birds, as they move along 

 the sand, is soft and musical, consisting of a single 

 plaintive note occasionally repeated. As you approach 

 near their nests, they seem to court your attention, 

 and, the moment they think you observe them, they 



