58 A NATURALIST IN THE MAGDALEN ISLANDS. 



62. CHARADRIUS FULVUS var. VIRGINICUS, Borck. 

 (Golden Plover) 



Arrives about August 1 1, and is abundant after August 15. 

 The inhabitants state that it is common here until October. 



The American Golden Plover is known to be very closely 

 allied to Charadrius fulvus, of Asia, so closely in fact that 

 in some cases it is almost impossible to distinguish them. 

 As regards Virginicus, it has the gray axillaries, under 

 wing coverts, and slightly feathered tibia, of Charadrius ful- 

 vus, and the only difference that is perceptible is a slight 

 variation in size. If this difference in size should be con- 

 stant, then Charadrius virginicus would constitute a good 

 variety if not a species. 



In a large series of Golden Plovers from Asia and Amer- 

 ica, as well as from other parts of the world, which it has 

 been my good fortune to exa,mine, I do not find any greater 

 difference in size than often exists in individuals of the same 

 species of some of our common Sandpipers, which no one 

 for a moment would think of separating as varieties or 

 species on that account. 



