104 CHARADRIULE. 



species could not be known with certainty), appeared on a floating 

 patch of " sleech-grass" (Zostera marina) waiting very patiently 

 for the fall of the tide, each with its head under its wing, and all 

 turned with their bodies in one direction, as is usual with the 

 Grallatores on such occasions. They thus present a formal rather 

 than a picturesque aspect, which latter the heron does under 

 similar circumstances. Large flocks of lapwings were on flight 

 above the bay ; the day was fine and beautifully bright, as the 

 weather has been, excepting on one day, for some time past ; 

 thus showing that severe weather is not the cause of this last 

 species coming to the sea-shore. 



THE KENTISH PLOVEE. 



Characlrms Cantianus, Latham. 



Is known only as an extremely rare visitant to our shores. 



So lately as August 1848 I first became acquainted with the 

 circumstance of its occurrence. On the 23rd of that month, two 

 of these birds were killed by an intelligent lad at the same shot 

 (from a shoulder-gun) with nine ringed plover and a dunlin, far 

 up Belfast bay. The shooter remarked the two birds to be dif- 

 ferent from any he had ever seen ; that their bills and legs were 

 as black as those of the dunlin, while the same parts of the ringed 

 plover were yellow or orange-coloured ; they were also noticed as 

 being smaller than the latter. On being shown the specimens of 

 this tribe of birds in the Belfast Museum, he at once pointed out 

 the Kentish plover as being of the same species as his victims. 

 A young relative of my own shot one of these birds about the 

 same time in Belfast bay, opposite Eichmond lodge. It was 

 feeding in company with ringed plover, some of which also fell 

 at the discharge ; its black legs and other distinguishing marks 

 were particularly observed; but owing to thoughtlessness, both 

 this and the other two specimens were suffered to be lost. It 

 may be remarked that the nearly allied ringed plover were con- 





