KENTISH PLOVER. 133 
KENTISH PLOVER. 
ARGIALITIS CANTIANA, Lath. 
Geogr. distr.—Central and Southern Europe; Asia as far eastward 
as Japan; Africa as far southward as the Cape; common in N. Africa: 
in Great Britain it has occurred sparingly in Norfolk; it is chiefly 
found, however, along the southern coast of England. 
Food.—lInsects in all stages, worms, Mollusca, and Crustacea. 
Nest.—A mere depression in the ground, sand, shingle, or earth, 
ee without lining, rarely lined with fine rootlets and a few grass 
ents. 
Position of nest.—Often in a bunch of wild oats or willow-shoots on 
overgrown downs thickly covered with grass, rushes, brambles, &c.; 
but usually on bare sandy flats, or in shingle or sea-weed cast up by 
the waves. 
Number of eggs.—8; rarely 4. 
Time of nidrfication.—V. 
Of this species Mr. Seebohm writes as follows :—“ It is 
one of the most local of British birds, and has only occurred 
very sparingly on the south and east coasts of England, as 
far north as Flamborough Head in Yorkshire, and as far 
west as Cornwall. Its only breeding-places in this country 
appear to be on the coasts of Kent and Sussex; but even 
there it is a rare bird, and is fast disappearing before the 
inroads of collectors.” 
‘* Although the bird does not exactly breed in colonies, 
numbers of its nests are made close together; and even 
where the bird is not common all the birds of a district 
often rear their young on the same suitable patch of coast.” 
“The Kentish Plover does not sit very close. The 
instant danger threatens, the watchful male conveys the 
alarm to his brooding mate, and she leaves her eggs at 
once, conscious that their protective colouring will ensure 
their safety. Only one brood appears to be reared in the 
year.—(Hist. Brit. Birds, vol. i, pp. 25, 26, 27.) 
This species appears to breed freely in the island of 
Guernsey and the neighbouring islets. 
The egg which I have figured is from the collection of 
Mr. H. Dresser. 
