THE RINGED PLOVER 



jEGIALHIS HIATICULA 



LOCAL names in surrounding counties : " Stone-runner," 

 " Ring Dotterel " (Essex). 



STATUS IN BRITISH AVIFAUNA : A passing migrant in 

 spring and autumn, a few possibly remaining to breed 

 on the coasts of Kent and Sussex, and frequenting suitable 

 inland places as well as the coast. 



RADIAL DISTRIBUTION WITHIN FIFTEEN MILES OF ST. 

 PAUL'S : The Ringed Plover is met with every year during 

 the seasons of spring and autumn migration in various 

 spots in the Metropolitan area. It is occasionally seen 

 on the foreshore of the Thames about Battersea, and 

 round the margins of the filtering-beds there, whilst 

 the various reservoirs in the suburbs, Kingsbury, the 

 Welsh Harp, Wimbledon Lake, and many other similar 

 places tempt it to make a short sojourn. Whether the 

 large resident race of the Ringed Plover (Mgialitis major) 

 ever visits London I am unable to say, as it is very difficult 

 of identification unless closely examined. The fact that 

 Ringed Plovers are usually only seen in our limits during 

 spring and autumn is strong presumptive evidence that 

 these individuals belong to the smaller race. At any 

 rate the facts present a very interesting problem for the 

 London ornithologist to solve. 



This little Plover is a dweller by the waterside, where 

 it may be watched running daintily to and fro in quest 

 of food. If disturbed it rises and flies away along the 

 shore or makes a detour over the water at no great height, 

 again alighting close to the water's edge. Occasionally 

 it wades into the shallow water, or trips lightly over the 

 mud. It seems by no means at home on the banks of 

 these London waters, and seldom makes a prolonged stay. 

 Its alarm-note is a loud, shrill too-it, the call-note a sound 

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