328 THE COMPLETE WILDFOWLER 
SOCIABLE PLOVER 
Vanellus gregarius (Pallas) | 
This species is found inhabiting South Russia and the 
Aralo-Caspian area. Until a few months ago, when a second 
example was procured in Kent, it had only once (in 1860) 
been taken in England. 
The general colour above is drab ; crown of the head black, 
margined with white. Quills black; secondaries white ; tail 
white, with a subterminal brown band. Chin white; throat 
buff ; breast brown ; belly black ; flanks and under tail-coverts 
deep chestnut. Length 12 in. ; wing 8 in. 
KILLDEER PLOVER 
Egtialitis vocifera (Linnaeus) 
This bird is a very rare abnormal migrant to the British 
Islands, and only two examples of this American species have 
been shot in England. It inhabits the Nearctic region with 
the exception of the extreme north. It isa larger bird than any 
of our other Ringed Plovers, which it somewhat resembles, but 
it may be distinguished from its British allies by the lower 
back, rump, and upper tail-coverts being rufous, a black sub- 
terminal bar and white tip to all the tail feathers except the 
central pair, and the presence of two narrow black bands across 
the breast. Length 9°5 in. ; wing 6'5 in. 
RINGED PLOVER 
gialites hiaticula (Linneus) 
The Ringed Plover is a common spring and autumn coast- 
ing migrant to these isles. 
Few people can have walked along our shores without 
having their attention attracted by the plaintive whistle of this 
delightful little bird. When it flies past, the dark ring stands 
out in contrast to its white breast, while as it gets farther away 
