446 Mr. M. J. NicoU — Contributions 



edge of a salt lake, when a long shot secured a fine adult 

 male in nearly full breeding plumage. 



tEgialitis alexandrina. 



jEgialitis cantiamis (Lath.), Shelley, p. 240; Loat, Ibis, 

 1905, p. 458. 



The Kentish Plover is a most abundant resident in the 

 Wadi Natron, as it is elsewhere in suitable localities in Lower 

 Egypt. At the time of* my visit in March a few pairs had 

 commenced to breed. In November 1911 I saw large flocks 

 of Kentish Plovers. I believe that the "incubation patch'' 

 of this Plover has not previously been described. I have 

 examined several breeding females, and in each case find that 

 the " patch '' is not universal on the abdomen as in Passerine 

 birds, but that there is a patch for each egg ! In the 

 present species there are a pair of patches on the lower breast 

 and a third on the abdomen, the number of incubation 

 patches corresponding with the number of eggs laid. 



jEgialitis iiiatjcola. 



JE(/iaIitis intermedius (Menetr.), Shelley, p. 242. 



jEgialitis hiaticola intermedia Nicoll, Ibis, 1909, p. 641. 



During my visit in March 1910 I saw a few Ringed 

 Plovers, but have no specimens from the Wadi. 



Examples of this Plover from Lower Egypt seem smaller 

 and darker than British specimens, but, as I at present have 

 no perfectly adult specimens, I am not sure as to whether 

 they are really separable. 



In my former paper I followed Shelley in using the name 

 intermedia of Menetries for this species. 



iEoiALITIS MINOR. 



JEgialitis minor Shelley, p. 242. 



The Little Ringed Plover was extremely common during 

 my visit in March, and several perfectly adult specimens were 

 obtained. From the behaviour of some of the birds I have 

 little doubt that they were about to nest. 



The call-note of this species is totally different to that of 

 the Common Ringed Plover. 



