Puover. GRALLATORES. CHARADRIUS. 245 
common in Germany and the southern parts of Europe, but 
hitherto unrecorded as a British species. 'TEMMINCK states 
the Kentish Plover to be very abundant in Holland; in 
England it is comparatively of rare occurrence, and its ap- 
pearance has been hitherto confined to the eastern shores of - 
the island, It is also found in Egypt, Nubia, and Tartary. 
Its manners are similar to those of the Ringed Plover, and 
it is a constant resident upon sea-coasts.—It breeds upon the 
gravelly beach above the usual reach of high water, using 
any small depression as a receptacle for its four eggs, which 
are smaller than those of the preceding species, but alike in 
colour *. Its food consists of small marine scarabzei, and 
other insects, worms, and diminutive bivalve shell-fish. 
Prate 38. Fig. 3. Represents the adult bird, from a speci- 
men in the collection of Sir Wittiam Jarpine, Bart. 
Bill and legs black. Forehead and streak over the eyes 
white. Behind the forehead is an angular spot or band 
of black. Space between the bill and eyes, and the ear- 
coverts, black. Crown of the head and nape of the neck 
deep yellowish-brown, tinged with ash-grey. On each 
side of the breast is a large patch of brownish-black. 
Under parts, and imperfect ring round the neck, pure 
white. Upper parts pale wood-brown, with a greyish 
tinge. Quills hair-brown, with the shafts of the pri- 
mary ones white. Tail having the four central feathers 
hair-brown, the three outer ones yellowish-white. 
* From a notice by Mr Grorcre Crayton of Rochester, in the 23d 
Number of the Magazine of Natural History, it appears highly probable 
that the Char. Cantianus breeds annually upon the Kentish coast ; for he 
says, “I first met with these birds in Pegwell Bay, and on the Sandwich 
Flats in May 1830. They were then in pairs, and probably breed in the 
banks of shells which abound there.” From his having shot seven of them 
in one day, they seem to have been rather numerous, and have in all likeli- 
hood hitherto escaped detection, from the similarity of their appearance 
and habits to the Ringed Plover. 
Nest, &c. 
Food. 
General 
descrip- 
tion. 
Adult 
bird. 
