Genus LXXIV. CHARADRIUS. PLOVEE. 

 Species I. C. EIATICULA. 



RINGED PLOVER.* 



[Plate XXXVII. Fig, Sf] 



Lath. Syn. t., p. 201, 8. — Arct. Zool. ii., No. 401. — Petit Pluvier, ct collier, Bupf. 

 VIII., p. 90-6. — PI. Enl. 921. — Pluvialis Torquata minor, Briss. t., p. 63, 8, t. 5, 

 f. 2.— TuRT. Sysi. p. 411, 2. 



It was not altogether consistent with my original plan to introduce 

 any of the Grallse or Waders, until I had advanced nearer to a close 

 with the Land Birds ; hut as the scenery here seemed somewhat appro- 

 priate, I have taken the liberty of placing in it two birds, reduced to 

 one-third of their natural size, both being varieties of their respective 

 species, each of which will appear in their proper places, in some future 

 volume of this work, in full size and in their complete plumage. 



The Ring Plover is very abundant on the low sandy shores of our 

 whole seacoast, during summer. They run, or rather seem to glide, 

 rapidly along the surface of the flat sands ; frequently spreading out 

 their wings and tail like a fan, and fl.uttering along, to draw or entice 

 one away from their nests. These are formed with little art ; being 

 merely shallow concavities dug in the sand, in which the eggs are laid, 

 and, during the day at least, left to the influence of the sun to hatch 

 them. The parents, however, always remain near the spot to protect 

 them from injury, and probably in cold rainy or stormy weather, to 

 shelter them with their bodies. The eggs are three, sometimes four, 

 large for the bird, of a dun clay color, and marked with numerous small 

 spots of reddish purple. 



The voice of these little birds, as they move along the sand, is soft 

 and musical, consisting of a single plaintive note occasionally repeated. 

 As you approach near their nests, they seem to court your attention, 



* Wilson in his account of the following species gives reasons for supposing this 

 bird to be specifically difi'erent from the Ring Plover of Plate LIX. It is un- 

 doubtedly a distinct species ; and has been named by Mr. Ord, Piping Plover — O. 

 Melodus. The synonymes given by our author do not of course apply to this 

 species. 



t Adult in spring dress. 



(355) 



