150 BIEDS OF MIDDLESEX. 



down, in order to observe it more carefully. As it 

 flew away I remarked no white line across the wings, 

 and this strengthened my belief that it was not the 

 Common Ringed Plover. Watching it until it again 

 alighted, about a hundred yards distant, I crawled 

 along on hands and knees, and obtained a good view 

 of the bird as it ran along the edge of the water, 

 occasionally stopping to pick up food. In its flight 

 and note it appeared rather to resemble the Sand- 

 pipers, but its actions when on the ground were 

 much like those of the Ringed Plover. It did not 

 associate, however, with the last-named species, 

 although there was a little flock of them also at the 

 water. After watching it for some time, I put it up 

 again and shot it. On picking it up there could be 

 no doubt of the species a veritable Little Ringed 

 Plover, although evidently a young bird. 



More slender in form than the Common Ringed 

 Plover, the legs are lighter in colour, and the bill 

 almost black. I say " almost black," because in the 

 living bird the base of the under mandible is deci- 

 dedly tinged with yellow, which fades, however, and 

 becomes black after the bird has been dead a few 

 hours. Many authors say " the bill is wholly black," 

 but they probably described from specimens which 

 had been some time preserved, and consequently had 

 lost colour ; and on this account, no doubt, they 

 have also overlooked a peculiarity which at once 

 attracted my attention. The eye, which is full and 



