493 



spring passage, and its nest was found there early in June 1869; and in 1870 Mr. Aschan shot 

 one of a pair on the 14th June at Ahkionlaks canal, in Maaninka kapell." Mr. Meves met with 

 it in Northern Eussia ; and Mr. Sabanaeff says that it is generally distributed throughout Central 

 Russia, and is especially numerous on the Kama. It is common on the Volga, and on the larger 

 rivers in the Governments of Tver, Jaroslaf, and Kostroma, but is rarer in that of Moscow and in 

 the Ural. Throughout the countries bordering the Baltic it appears to be common, frequenting 

 inland waters ; and Naumann speaks of it as being very generally distributed in Germany on the 

 inland waters where the soil is suitable, and numerous on the Elbe. It arrives early in April, 

 sometimes late in March, and leaves late in August or September, a few stragglers occasionally 

 remaining as late as October. Mr. Benzon informs me that it has certainly been known to breed 

 in Denmark; and KJEerbolling states that it is by no means very uncommon in that country. 

 Mr. Sachse informs me that it breeds on the Rhine, but is rarely seen near Altenkirchen. 

 Professor Schlegel includes it in his work on the birds of Holland, though he gives no particulars 

 as to its occurrences in that country ; but Mr. Labouchere informs me that it occurs in small 

 numbers on passage. In Belgium it is a tolerably regular migrant along the Meuse, and is 

 abundant in the marshy plains of the neighbourhood of Maestricht, and along the river-banks. 

 In Luxembourg it is common along the Moselle and the Sure, where it breeds ; and De la Fontaine 

 proves that it does not sit on its eggs throughout a great part of the day. In the northern and 

 central departments of France it is somewhat rare, and only a limited number breed there ; but 

 in the south it becomes more abundant, nesting regularly along the Durance and the Verdora, 

 although not observed in the Camargue. Professor Barboza du Bocage speaks of it as being 

 common in Portugal; and Colonel Irby says (Om. Str. Gibr. p. 161) it is abundant in Spain, but 

 not so numerous in winter as during the breeding-season. In the Balearic Isles it is, Von Homeyer 

 says, the rarest of the Plovers, but is more numerous in the interior than on the coast. In Savoy 

 it arrives in the spring in small flocks ; and they then separate into pairs, and many breed along 

 the Rhone, the Isere, and in other suitable localities. They leave in August; but some remain 

 as late as October, at which time a second detachment passes through from other countries. 



In Italy it is resident, its numbers being augmented at times of migration ; and in Sicily it 

 is principally a visitant, although some breed in the Madorina, and probably in other districts. 

 Mr. C. A. Wright says (Ibis, 1864, p. 141) that it is common in Malta, arriving and departing 

 together with the common Ringed Plover. In southern Germany it is tolerably common, and 

 generally distributed ; and Dr. Anton Fritsch says (J. f. O. 1871, p. 384) that it frequently 

 breeds on the sandy and pebbly shores of large and small rivers in Bohemia. It is common in 

 the vicinity of Prague, even on the Hetzinsel, and near Lieben. He also found it near Laun, 

 Horazdovic, Frauenburg, &c. &c. Kablik mentions this bird as breeding near Hohenelbe. The 

 late Mr. Seidensacher says that it breeds on the Sann, in Styria. It arrives early in April, and 

 leaves about the end of August. Messrs. Danford and Harvie-Brown say (Ibis, 1875, p. 419), 

 it is " common along the stony parts of rivers. We observed it at Bogat, on the Maros, and at 

 Hatzeg." In Greece, Dr. Kriiper states, it inhabits the sandy banks of the rivers and the sea- 

 shore, and breeds in the country. He thinks it not improbable that it winters in the Cyclades. 

 Lord Lilford says it is tolerably common in Corfu in April and May, particularly in the Val di 

 Corissia and at Potamo, only remaining a few days in the island. Colonel Drummond-Hay 



x 



