160 



CHAEADEIUS. 



Diagnosis. 



CHARADRIUS SANCT^-HELEN^l. 



ST.-HELENA PLOVER. 



Charadrius, subgen. JEgialopMli minores, primariarum tectricibus quam secundaria? valde bre- 

 vioribus (circa 13 millim.). 



Variations. The restricted area of distribution of this species prevents local races from forming. 



Synonymy. 



iEgialitis sanctae-helenae, Harting, Ibis, 1873; p. 260. 



Literature. Plates. — Harting, Ibis, 1873, pi. ix. 



Habits. — Layard, Ibis, 1867, p. 250. 



Eggs, in the British Museum, exactly resemble those of C. pecuarius in colour and markings, 

 but are slightly larger, measuring 1*4 by "9 inch. 



Specific 

 characters. 



The St. -Helena Plover is perfectly distinct from its continental ally. The length of 

 wing from carpal joint varying from 4 - 6 to 43 inch, cannot always be relied upon, nor 

 does it differ in colour (nor in the variations of colour depending upon age, sex, or season), 

 except that the white bases of the innermost primaries are so suffused with brown as to be 

 easily overlooked. The diagnoses of C. sanctce-helence and C. pecuarius agree, therefore, in 

 the first two characters of black legs and feet, and shaft of third primary nearly black, but 

 the shape of the wing in the two species is quite different. The wing of the St.-Helena 

 bird is much broader than that of its ally, so much so that the secondaries extend about 

 half an inch beyond the primary-coverts. 



