270 TiMEHRI. 



account of the white bar which crosses the inner part of 

 the wing. 



Allied to the two preceding species are three forms of 

 the old genus ^gialitis, one of which seems to be a con- 

 stant resident, while the others are true migrants. In 

 these birds the bills are shorter and thicker in proportion 

 than in the Golden Plover, and the body much smaller, 

 their length being under 7^ inches. The toes are three, 

 the hind toe being absent. These species will readily be 

 distinguished by the marked black collar, or frontlet, on 

 the white breast. 



The resident species, the Small Ring Plover (jiE. 

 collaris) is the smallest, its length being 6 inches ; the 

 collar does not surround the neck; the top of the head 

 is black, with white front and sides ; while the upper 

 surface generally has a markedly rufous tint. 



Somewhat larger than this is the common Ring Plover 

 or Ring- neck (/^. semipalmata). In this migrant the 

 length is about 7 inches ; a black collar entirely surrounds 

 the neck, preceded by a white ring ; the top of the head 

 is black, this colour being continued under the eyes 

 and over the ears ; the feet and bill are orange-red, the 

 latter being much shorter than the head, and black at the 

 tip. 



This bird is smaller than the European Ring Plover 

 with which it is often confounded. Its habits, however, 

 are quite similar. It arrives here in September, and 

 during the later months, it appears to pass on further 

 south, but representatives are met with throughout the 

 winter. It is known to breed in the Arflic distrifls of 

 N, America. 



The second migrant of the genus, the Great-billed or 



