RINGED PLOVER. 345 
bare of feathers around the base of the lower mandible ; upper mandi- 
ble, notched near the tip, the edges of both turned inwards about the 
middle; eye, very small, placed near the corner of the mouth, and of a 
dark hazel color; recumbent hairs or bristles, large and long; ear- 
feathers, prominent ; first primary, little more than half the length, 
fourth the longest; wings, when shut, reach within two inches of the 
tip of the tail; tail, rounded, and seven inches long from its insertion ; 
thighs, very long; legs, stout; claws, sharp, long, and hooked, hind 
one the largest, all jet black. Male and female much alike. 
I would beg leave to recommend to the watchful farmers of the 
United States, that, in their honest indignation against the Common 
Crow, they would spare the present species, and not shower destruc- 
tion indiscriminately on their black friends and enemies ; at least, on 
those who sometimes plunder them, and those who never molest or 
injure their property. 
—~+>—___ 
.RINGED PLOVER.—CHARADRIUS HIATICULA.— Fie. 160. 
Lath, Syn. v. p. 201. 8. — Arct. Zool. ii. No. 401. — Petit pluvier, a Collier, Buf. 
viii. p. 90. 6. Pl. ent. 921. — Pluvialis torquato minor, Briss. v. p. 63. 8. t.5.f.2. 
— Turt. Syst. p. 411. 2.— Peale’s Museum, No. 4150. 
‘CHARADRIUS MELODUS.—Orv.* 
Charadrius melodus, Bonap. Synop. p. 296.— Charadrius Okenii ? Wagl. Syst. 
Av. No. 24. 
Ir was not altogether consistent with my original plan, to introduce 
any of the Gralle, or Waders, until I had advanced nearer to a close 
with the Land Birds ; but as the scenery here seemed somewhat ap- 
propriate, I have taken the liberty of placing in it two birds, (Figs. 
160 and 161,) reduced to one-third of their natural size, both being va- 
rielies of their respective species, each of which will appear in their 
proper places, in some future part of this work, in full size, and in 
their complete plumage. : ; 
The Ringed Plover is very abundant on the low sandy shores of 
our whole sea-coast during summer. ‘They run, or rather seem to 
* This little Plover has proved to be one of those very closely allied Species so 
ditficult of distinction, without a comparison with its congeners. The present fig- 
ure (No. 160) is in the adult spring dress. The synonyms of Wilson are, of course, 
erroneous. ‘Those also of Temminck, quoted in his Manual, and the observations 
on Wilson’s plate and description, must share a similar fate. The observations in 
the Nomenclature of Wilson, by the Prince of Musignano, will best explain how 
this species ought to stand. “ C. hiaticula was at first given by Wilson as a va- 
riety, of which he intended to describe the type in a future volume ; but when he 
‘did so in his seventh volume, he clearly and positively pointed out the difference in 
markings, habits, migration, voice, &c. between the two, which he then considered 
as distinct species, but without applying a new name; and we have no doubt that, 
if he had made out the index himself, he would then have supplied the deficiency, 
as he had before done in respect to some land birds. Mr. Ord supplied this void, 
by calling it C. melodus.’*— Ep. : 
