118 GRALLJE. 



different ; but there is an especial local confusion because 

 this species has been, by naturalists of deserved name, con- 

 founded with a smaller, more delicate, and more beautiful 

 species, which, though hitherto observed only on particular 

 places of the coasts of Kent and Sussex, is distinctly marked 

 as a species ; and also, because the mistake of these eminent 

 persons is continued to the uninformed part of society by 

 those '' feeble folk," who, haply because of the perishable nature 

 of their own conglomerates of dust and slime, go about to 

 " make themselves holes " in the monuments of the mighty. 



The difference in the plumage of those two birds will be 

 mentioned afterwards ; but it may here be proper to state, 

 that the ring-plover has more the air and character of the 

 dotterel ; and the Kentish plover (in that case there is no 

 impropriety in the trivial name being a localized one) has 

 more of those of the golden plover. The basal half of 

 both mandibles and the feet are, in the ring-plover, yellow 

 in both sexes, at all ages, and under every change of plumage. 

 The entire bill and feet of the Kentish plover are under all 

 circumstances totally black. The Kentish plover is also not 

 only a cleaner made bird, with its plumage more delicate and 

 less thickly set, but its feet are adapted to a different descrip- 

 tion of ground ; and though as well winged for its weight, it 

 is not so much so in proportion to its length. The closed 

 .wings of the ring-plover reach at least to the tip of the tail, 

 if not rather beyond it ; while those of the Kentish plover 

 are more than one-eighth of an inch shorter than the tip of 

 the tail. 



The tarsi of the Kentish plover are longer and stronger 

 than those of the ring-plover, so that the bird stands higher 

 on its legs ; and the toes are, on the other hand, about an 

 eighth of an inch shorter, but firmer in their structure, and 

 altogether more resembling the feet of those inland birds 

 which inhabit dry and stony places. Those of the ring-plover 



