162 



is a migratory bird and very widely distiibuted ; whilst a larger 

 paler race, with stouter legs and feet, and with a lengtli of wing 

 varying from 5,o to 5,6 inch, appears to be a resident in Ihe Bri- 

 tish Islands and on the adjoining coasts. Many writers have 

 remarked that these two races, like the large and small races 

 of the DunUn, migrate in separate flocks and have difTerent 

 areas of distribution. 



So far as I have been able to ascertain, the Ringed Plovers 

 breeding in the British Islands and Western Europe lay larger 

 eggs than those breeding elsewhere. The small dark race ar- 

 rives on our shores late in spring and does not remain here to 

 breed, but soon passes northwards on migration to its breeding- 

 grounds in Arctic Europe. The two races can only be sub- 

 specifically distinct, as they not only intergrade in colour, but 

 large examples of the eastern exceed in length of wing small 

 examples of the western race«. 



Mr. Percy R. Lowe, der har haft Adgang til British Museums 

 og andre engelske Samlingers Stof, har kunnet undersøge hen- 

 ved 200 Pra^stekraver, af hvilke dog mere end Halvdelen lodes 

 ude af Betragtning, fordi de enten vare unge, ikke kønsbestemte 

 eller »otherwise wanting in the data attached«, og Undersøgelsen 

 bringer Mr. Lowe til følgende Slutning: »There are undoubtedly 

 two easily recognised races of the Common Ringed Plover, viz., 

 the eastern Continental or typical race, C. h. hiaticola, and a 

 western continentai race, C. h. major, whose chief habitat is the 

 British Isles. The points of distinction between the two races 

 are, that C. h. major is a larger bird in almost every respect — 

 that is to say as regards the length of the wings, the length and 

 stoutness of the legs and feet (this on an average very notice- 

 able); the size of the skull (the head appearing more rounded, 

 wider, and larger); the bill (on a average); and the body gener- 

 ally. As regards coloration, the upper parts of British breeding 

 hirds, as compared with hirds of the typical race at a like sea- 

 son, are also very obviously paler, the coloration being a pale 

 drabby brown as compared with a very noticeably deeper and 

 more chocolate-brown. It is to be noted, however, that freshly 

 moulted (autumn) specimens of C. h. major are distinctly darker 

 on the upper parts as compared with examples in summer- 

 plumage. To sum up, we thus have a large pale race (C. h. 

 major) and a small dark race (C. h. hiaticola)«. 



