501 



river, not far from the Caspian. Canon Tristram met with the present species during winter on 

 the coast of Palestine ; and it appears to be a winter visitant to North-east Africa. Captain 

 Shelley states (B. of Egypt, p. 241) that he only met with the small race or form of the present 

 species, which he refers to under the name of 2E. intermedins ; but, as above stated, I cannot 

 recognize any specific distinction between the smaller and larger birds ; and I may add that I 

 possess examples, not differing from our British species, from Egypt and Djeddah on the Bed 

 Sea. Von Heuglin says (Orn. N.O.-Afr. p. 1027) that it is found on the Nile during the winter, 

 southwards to the Upper Kir. He also observed it in Abyssinia, on the Tana lake and near 

 Qualabat and Sarago, in full breeding-dress, in April, and in May and June in the Gulf of Suez. 

 On the west side of the continent it also occurs ; and, according to Loche, it is common in 

 Algeria on passage ; and Favier states {fide Irby, I. c.) that " near Tangier it is found in small 

 numbers in pairs and companies on the sea-shore. They arrive during the months of September, 

 October, and November, returning north again in April and May." Captain Shelley says (Ibis, 

 1875, p. 85) that he found it not uncommon at Durban, in South Africa. Mr. Andersson speaks 

 of it as occurring at certain seasons at Walvisch Bay, but only very sparingly elsewhere ; and 

 Mr. E. L. Layard writes (B. of S. Afr. p. 298) as follows : — " M. Victorin procured it at the 

 Knysna, and Mr. Ayres at Natal. My son shot a fine specimen, in full plumage, at Salt-river 

 mouth, near Cape-town, in April 1865." Vernon Harcourt states that it is found at Madeira; 

 but I find no positive record of its occurrence on the Canaries — though Dr. Carl Bolle states 

 (J. f. O. 1857, p. 337) that he was told that on the Isleta of Canaria a Plover occurs which, from 

 the short description he gives, appears to be referable to the present species. 



It is somewhat difficult to define the precise eastern limits of the range of the present 

 species ; for in some instances I cannot but surmise that it has been confused with allied species. 

 Mr. G. R. Gray states that it occurs in Persia ; but Mr. Blanford did not observe it there. Nor 

 does it appear to have occurred in India ; for, according to Mr. Hume (Stray Feathers, i. p. 495), 

 the record by Mr. Blyth of its occurrence there was founded on error. Dr. Severtzoff, however, 

 states (Turk. Jevotnie, p. 69) that it breeds rarely in Turkestan; and Von Middendorff says that 

 he found it breeding on the Taimyr, nearly in 74° N. lat., and that he observed the first on the 

 Boganida on the 25th May (O. S.). Curiously enough Mr. Gould states (Handb. B. of Australia, 

 ii. p. 231) that he possesses an undoubted Australian specimen, which was killed at Port 

 Stevens. 



Although during the nesting-season the Ringed Plovers are scattered about, some breeding 

 on the coast and some near inland pieces of water, yet when the young are hatched and able to 

 shift for themselves, they all resort to the sea-shore, and are then seen in large or small flocks on 

 the shingly beaches, sandy shores, or on the mud-banks which are left bare by the receding tide. 

 They are especially to be met with where rivers or larger streams fall into the sea, and where 

 large banks of sand or mud are left bare at low water. Here they search after their food, which 

 consists of aquatic insects, small shell-fish, marine worms, &c. &c. They run with great swift- 

 ness, every now and then uttering a clear, somewhat plaintive cry, stopping now and again for a 

 second suddenly and then running swiftly onwards, the body being kept almost motionless, the 

 head drawn in, and the feet pattering along with incredibly quick steps, making the bird appear 

 almost as if it were gliding along. When approached too near they will rise on the wing, glide 



