CIIARADRIID^ — THE I'LOVERS — CHAKADKIUS. 145 



coiiiR'Ction upwards of thirty specimens, the greater munlier ln'iiig I'ruin the Pacific islanils. Meas- 

 uremeiil.s ut' a part of this series (other speciiiieiis not being avaihible for the purpose) give the 

 folhiwing results ; — Seven specimens from Alaska: Wing, 6.25-6.80, average, 6.-J9 ; euhnen, .85- 

 .95, average, .89; tarsus, 1.70-1.H5, average, 1.76; niichlle toe, .85-.9(), average, .89. Sixteen 

 specimens from Pacific islands, India, and China: Wing, 6.10-6.80, average, 6.36 ; culnien, .85- 

 1.00, average .93 ; tai-sus, 1.55-1.85, average, 1.69 ; niiihile toe, .85-95, average, .91. The average 

 of the whole series is as given above. 



In the collection there is one specimen (No. 1853) label K'll '■ Ckaradrius pluviaiis," received 

 from Aug. Lefevre, Paris, and supposed to have been obtained in France — although this is not 

 assertt'd on the original label — which bears, beside the name, only the inscription, '^ prenant livree 

 d'eV." It is typical fulviis, having smoky gray a.xillaK, and measuring as follows : \\'ing, 6.00 ; 

 culmen, .92 ; tarsus, 1.70 ; middle toe, .90. It is an adult in changing plumage. 



A single specimen of tliis Asiatic species was isrocured by llr. Elliott on the Pry- 

 bilof Islands, tlitrs first giving it a place in the fauna of North America.* This 

 example was taken on the Island of St. Paul's, May 2, 1873. Mr. Elliott states that 

 a few stragglers land in April or early in May on their way north to breed, but never 

 remain long. They return in greater numbers the latter part of September, and grow 

 fat upon the larvae generated on the killing-grounds of the fur seal, and leave for 

 the south by the end of October. Numerous specimens taken on the coast of Alaska 

 are in the National IMuscum. This species is very closely allied to the virginuinus, 

 so that Drs. Hartlauh and Finsch regard it as very probable that they are identical 

 species. 



Mr. Dresser, in liis account of this bird, refers to specimens taken in Northeastern 

 Africa on the Bed Sea, in Siberia, India, Ceylon, Malacca, Java, Bauca, Borneo, 

 Timor, Batchian, Australia, Hainan, Formosa, China, and also to one from the Arctic 

 seas, killed in lat. 69° oO' N., long. 173° 20' E., Sept. 3, 1852, and nearer the American 

 than the Asiatic shore. It also occasionally extends its range into Europe, having 

 once been seen at Heligoland and twice at Malta. It will thus be seen either to be 

 a great wanderer or to have quite an extended range. 



It is without doubt this bird that .is referred to by Pallas as C. pluviaiis. By that 

 traveller it is spoken of as being rare in the northern parts of Russia, but exceedingly 

 common in Siberia, whence it migrates in the autumn in Hocks to more southern 

 localities in company with the Dotterel. It was met with on the banks of small 

 rivers and in cattle pastures. Steller is cjuoted as having taken it in Kamtschatka 

 in autumn. 



Mr. Dresser states that it breeds within the Arctic Circle. Middeudorff observed 

 it on the tundras of the Taimyr, in lat. 74° N.. in full summer plumage. The birds 

 were gathered in large flocks on the 4tli of June, and had eggs by tlie 17th. Tliey 

 assembled on the 2d of August, on Lake Taimyr, to return, and none were seen after 



and another, in nearly complete summei' dies.s, from Shanghai, China (No. 83742, Apiil 2], 188] ; Shanghai 

 Museum). Upon close comparison of these specimens with exaui]iles in corresponding plumage from 

 North America, we cannot see that tliey differ in the minutest particular as regards coloration. They are, 

 however, decidedly shorter winged, their measurements being, respectively, :xs follows ; — 



Wing. Culmen. Tarsus. Middle Toe. 



No. 71561, i. New South Wales, 6.30 .95 1.65 1.00 



No. 85742, S, Shanghai, 6.55 1.02 1.75 .95 



Average of C. dominicus, 7.09 .91 1.70 .90 



' Since the above was penned by Dr. Brewer, numerous Alaskan specimens have been received at the 

 U. S. National Museum, collected by Messrs. Turner and Nelson, and others, chiefly at St. Michael's, 

 Norton Sound. — K. K. 



VOL. I. — 19 



