160 



CHAEADEIUS. 



CHARADRIUS SANCT^-HELEN^. 



8T.-HELENA PLOVER. 



Diagnosis. CharadbiuSj subgen. ^gialophili minores, primariarum tectricibus quam secuadarise valde bi'e- 

 vioribus (circa 13 millim.). 



Variations. The restricted area of distribution of this species prevents local races from forming. 



Synonymy. jaEgialitis sanctse-helensej Harting, Ibis, 1873j p. 260. 



Literature. Plates. — Harting^ Ibis, 1873j pi. ix. 



Habits. — Layard, Ibis, 1867, p. 250. 



EggSj in the British Museum, exactly resemble those of C. pecuarius in colour and markings, 

 but are slightly larger, measuring 1"4 by -9 inch. 



Specific 

 characters. 



The length of 



The St.-Helena Plover is perfectly distinct from its continental ally, 

 wing from carpal joint varying from 4-6 to 4-3 inch, cannot always be rehed upon, nor 

 does it differ in colour (nor in the variations of colour depending upon age, sex, or season), 

 except that the white bases of the innermost primaries are so suffused with brown as to be 

 easily overlooked. The diagnoses of C. sanctce-helence and C. pecuarius agree, therefore, in 

 the first two characters of hlach legs and feet, and shaft of third primary nearly black, but 

 the shape of the wing in the two species is quite different. The wing of the St.-Helena 

 bird is much broader than that of its ally, so much so that the secondaries extend about 

 half an inch beyond the primary-coverts. 



