GAME BIRDS AND WILD FOWL. 131 



^. caniianus dealbaius, a resident on the coasts of South China, 

 Hainan, and Formosa. Differs from the Kentish Plover in being 

 a httle larger, and in having pale instead of black legs. j/E. 

 cantianus nivosus, resident on the shores of Great Salt Lake and 

 the adjoining coast of California (from about lat. 40°), southwards 

 along the Pacific coasts to Chili. Differs from the Kentish 

 Plover in having pale legs and white lores. It is also on an 

 average a smaller bird (wing 4-4 to 4*0 inches). All these races 

 more or less intergrade, and can only be regarded as subspecifi- 

 cally distinct from the Kentish Plover. 



Time during which the Kentish Sand Plover may be 

 taken. — August ist to March ist. 



Habits. — The Kentish Sand Plover is even more attached to 

 the sand than the Ringed Plover, and is rarely, if ever, found far 

 from salt water, either the shores of the sea or estuaries, or the 

 banks of salt lakes at some considerable distance inland. The 

 few birds of this species that breed in our islands, arrive in their 

 accustomed haunts towards the end of April or the beginning of 

 May. Although odd birds have been picked up during winter^ 

 the main number begin to retire south again in August, and the 

 migration lasts into the first half of September. Its haunts in our 

 islands are certain favoured sandy beaches, where the fine sand 

 is varied with patches of coarser shingle, and strewn with pebbles. 

 In its habits it does not differ in any remarkable manner from the 

 Ringed Plover, and searches for its food on the margin of the 

 waves, running quickly about the wet sands, and sometimes 

 wading for a little way into the receding waves in chase of a 

 crustacean or sand-hopper. Even during the summer it is by no 

 means unsocial, and gathers into small parties to feed. It is also 

 by no means a shy bird during the breeding season, and permits 

 a close approach, especially when its eggs are laid. Its flight is 

 rapid, and very similar to that of the Ringed Plover, and it also 

 possesses the same habit of gliding along before ahghting with 

 wings held arched and rigid, and like that species, frequently 

 elevates its wings as it runs, both before and after flight. Its 

 alarm note is a shrill, harsh ptirr, but the usual call-note is a 

 sharp, clear whit, which, during the pairing season, is uttered by 

 the male so quickly as to form a trill as the bird soars and flies 



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