THE DOTTEREL. 245 



"As a British bird, this interesting species rests on a 

 single specimen procured by Mr. Henry Doubleday ; 

 it was taken at Shoreham, in Sussex. The habits of 

 this dotterel become interesting to the ornithologist, 

 as being somewhat at variance with the others, fre- 

 quenting the banks of rivers in preference to the 

 coast ; but, like the others, it lays its eggs upon the 

 sand, without any attempt at a nest. From the very- 

 young state of Mr. Doubleday 's specimen, it is con- 

 jectured that it may have been bred in England, and. 

 if so, we may yet find the species as an occasional 

 visitant ; though, perhaps, the character of the banks 

 of the rivers is not such as will suit its habits." 



Charadrius Cantianus. The Kentish Dotterel, 

 or Plover of British authors. 



This species is closely linked with our ringed 

 dotterel, and distinguished only by its inferior bulk, 

 and by its feathered markings. Its habits appear to 

 be the same with the larger dotterel, and it associates 

 with it when thrown into the same localities. It 

 breeds with us ; is known in Sussex, Kent, Norfolk, 

 Essex, in the marshy districts, and on the sandy and 

 gravel beaches of the coasts. Its geographical range 

 is somewhat extensive, although not common over 

 Europe, and not known, that we are aware, either in 

 Scotland or Ireland. In the plumage of this bird 

 the collar round its neck is interrupted; there is a 

 great deal of yellow brown in the plumage ; the back 

 and wings are hair brown ; shafts of feathers deeper 

 in tint ; the crown yellow brown ; nape the same ; and 

 u 2 



