Ordee GRALLE.] [Fam. CHARADRIID.E. 



CHAKADEIIJS OBSCITKUS. 



(NEW-ZEALAND DOTTREL.) 



Dusky Plover, Lath. Gen. Syn. iii. pt. 1, p. 211 (1785). 

 Charadrhis obscurus, Gm. Syst. Nat. i. p. 686 (1788). 

 Charadrius glareola, Forst. Descr. Anim. p. 109 (1844). 

 Pluviorhynchus obscurus, Bonap. C. K. xliii. p. 417 (1856). 



Native name. — Tuturiwhata . 



Ad. ptil. cestiv. supra sordide cinereus, ochraceo-rufo lavatus, plumis omnibus hoc colore marginatis : collo 

 postico paullo dilutiore cinereo : tectricibus alarum dilute cinereis, pallidius marginatis, majoribus 

 anguste albido terminatis : remigibus cinerascenti-brunneis, extus et versus apicem saturatioribus, 

 scapis albis, remigibus minoribus et secundariis extimis basin versus albis et conspicue albo terminatis, 

 secundariis dorsalibus dorso concoloribus : Cauda saturatius brunnea, rectricibus externis magis cine- 

 rascentibus albo terminatis, penna extima fere albida : loris et supercilio distincto fulvcscenti-albis : 

 regione parotic;! brunnescente : subtiis ochrascenti-rufus, genis et guhi pallidioribus : hypochondriis cum 

 crisso et subcaudalibus albidis : subalaribus et axillaribus albis : rostro nigro : pedibus plumbeis : iridc 



Ad. ptil. Mem. similis ptilosi sestivse, sed sordidior : supra dilute cinereus, haud rufescente lavatis : subtiis albi- 

 cans, pectore superiore laterali cinerascente. 



Adult in summer. Crown of the head, hind part of neck, and all the upper surface greyish brown, each 

 feather narrowly margined with chestnut ; a small spot on the forehead, and all the chin white ; 

 throat, fore neck, and underparts of the body pale chestnut ; lining of wings, flanks, lower part of 

 abdomen, and under tail-coverts white; wing-feathers brownish black, the first primary having the 

 entire shaft white, and the rest white in their median portion. Irides and bill black; legs and feet 

 leaden grey. Length 105 inches ; extent of wings 21 ; wing, from flexure, 6 - 5 ; tail 2*75 ; bill, along 

 the ridge 11 , along the edge of lower mandible 1'2 ; bare tibia - 5 ; tarsus 1*4 ; middle toe aud claw T2. 



Adult in winter. Upper surface greyish brown, without the chestnut margins ; underparts pure white, the 

 breast crossed by an interrupted zone of dark grey, and the sides of the body tinged with the same. 



This fine species, although nowhere very plentiful, is dispersed along the whole of our shores, 

 frequenting the ocean-beaches and the sand flats at the mouths of all our tidal rivers. It more- 

 over inhabits the interior, and appears to affect very high altitudes. Dr. Haast has sent me 

 specimens obtained by him far up in the Southern Alps ; Mr. Enys states that he has met with it 

 at an elevation of nearly 7000 feet ; and Mr. Buchanan informs me that during his ascent of 



