THE RINGED PLOVER. 103 



proceeded on their migratory course, which was in a north-west 

 direction. 



Mr. Garrett has supplied me with the following critical note, as well 

 as given me ' ocular demonstration' of its correctness. " In treating of 

 the little ringed plover Mr. Yarrell says, — ' This species bears con- 

 siderable resemblance to the ringed plover (Ch. Hiaticula), and is likely 

 to be occasionally overlooked ; it is, however, to be distinguished 

 readily on examination by its smaller size ; its much more slender form 

 being one-fourth lighter in weight ; its black beak, its more slender 

 and lighter-coloured legs, by the broad white shaft of the first quill- 

 feather only of each wing, and by the dusky spot which is present at 

 all ages on the inner web of the outer tail feather on each side, which 

 feather in the ringed plover is tvholly white without any spot, and there 

 are two white feathers on each outside of the tail in the Kentish 

 plover."* 



" I have, however, observed, in several specimens of the ringed plover, 

 a ' dusky spot on the inner web of the outer tail-feather on each side.' 

 In one of these killed in my presence, on 30th April 1849, out of a 

 flock in Belfast bay, the spot was very distinctly marked ; as it likewise 

 was in a female bird which I shot there on the 18th of May. It is 

 sometimes on the male as well as the female, and may perhaps depend 

 on the age of the bird. I have seen many individuals in which the 

 spot was wholly wanting." 



The following note may here be introduced : — Sept. 25, 1838. 

 Charadriida. I was interested to-day by observing, close to 

 Thomson's Embankment, Belfast bay, three species of this family 

 at one view; the ringed dotterel (C. hiaticula), lapwing {Vanel- 

 lus cristatus), and grey plover {Sqtmtarola cinerea). The two 

 former were feeding in company very near the road, and I could 

 not but remark the strong family resemblance imparted by the 

 dark gorget — the most striking mark of the plumage when the 

 birds are viewed from some distance. In addition to the 

 three species in the fore-ground, groups of grey or golden plover 

 (so far apart from the others, and from where I stood, tnat the 



* Brit. Birds, vol. ii. p. 47-±, 2nd edition. 



