502 RING PLOVER. 
from the effect of climate. Mr. Pennant, 1 speaking of the true 
Ring Plover, makes the following remarks: “ Almost all which I have 
seen from the northern parts of North Ameica, have had the black 
marks extremely faint, and almost lost. The climate had almost de- 
stroyed the specific marks; yet in the bill and habit preserved sufficient 
to make the kind very easily ascertained.” These traits agree exactly 
with the light colored species, described in our fifth volume.* But 
this excellent naturalist was perhaps not aware that we have the true 
Ring Plover here in spring and autumn, agreeing in every respect 
with that of Britain, and at least in equal numbers; why, therefore, 
has not the climate equally affected the present and the former sort, 
if both are the same species? These inconsistencies cannot be rec- 
onciled but by supposing each to be a distinct species, which, though 
approaching extremely near to each other in external appearance, 
have each their peculiar notes, color and places of breeding.t 
The Ring Plover is seven inches long, and fourteen inches in 
extent ; bill, short, orange colored, tipped with black; front and chin, 
white, encircling the neck ; upper part of the breast, black ; rest of the 
lower parts, pure white; fore part of the crown, black; band from the 
upper mandible covering the auriculars, also black ; back, scapulars, and 
wing-coverts, ofa brownish ash color; wing-quills, dusky black, marked 
with an oval spot of white about the middle of each; tail, olive, deep- 
ening into black, and tipped with white ; legs, dull yellow; eye, dark 
hazel; eyelids yellow. i 
This bird is said to make no nest, but to lay four eggs of a pale ash 
color, spotted with black, which she deposits on the ground.{ The 
eggs of the light colored species, formerly described, are of a pale 
cream color, marked with small, round dots of black, as if done with 
a pen. 
"The Ring Plover, according to Pennant, inhabits America down to 
Jamaica and the Brazils ; is found in summer in Greenland; migrates 
from thence in autumn; is common in every part of Russia and Sibe- 
ria; was found by the navigators as low as Owyhee, one of the Sand- 
wich Islands, and as light colored as those of the highest latitudes.§ 
* Page 345 of this edition. 
t It 1s mentioned as abundant in al! “arctic America,” by the authors of the 
Northern Zoology,“ where it breeds in similar situations to the Golden Plover. 
Mr. Hutchins reports, that the eggs, pensrally four, are dark colored, spotted with 
black. The natives say, that, on the approach of stormy weather, this Plover 
makes a cheruping noise, and claps its wings.” — Ep. 
} Bewicr. § Arct. Zool. p. 485. 
