RING PLOVER. 36 j 



The present species, or true ring plover, and also the 

 former or light-coloured bird, both arrive on the sea-coast of 

 New Jersey late in April. The present kind continues to be 

 seen in flocks until late in May, when they disappear on their 

 way farther north ; the light-coloured bird remains during the 

 summer, forms its nest in the sand, and generally produces 

 two broods in the season. Early in September the present 

 species returns in flocks as before ; soon after this the light- 

 coloured kind go off to the south, but the other remain a full 

 month later. European writers inform us that the ring 

 plover has a sharp twittering note ; and this account agrees 

 exactly with that of the present : the light-coloured species, 

 on the contrary, has a peculiarly soft and musical note, similar 

 to the tone of a German flute, which it utters while running 

 along the sand, with expanded tail and hanging wings, 

 endeavouring to decoy you from its nest. The present species 

 is never seen to breed here ; and though I have opened great 

 numbers of them as late as the 20th of May, the eggs which 

 the females contained were never larger than small birdshot ; 



in the most positive manner, that they are distinct but allied species, 

 differing from each other as Tringa semipalmata of Wilson differs from 

 his Tringa pusilla." 



The synonyms of Mr Ord, who noticed one of the principal distinc- 

 tions in the palmation of the feet, are consequently Avrong, and they 

 should stand as above. I have added a synonym of Wagler, G. semi- 

 palmatus, which he takes, without any acknowledgment, from Cont. 

 Isis, 1825, and which seems to be this species. He also refers to the G. 

 hiaticula of "Wilson, Plate XXXVII., under the name of G. Okenii. The 

 true G. hiaticula has not yet, I believe, been found in North America. 



" I have been endeavouring," again writes Bonaparte, " to discover 

 some other markings on my stuffed specimens, that might enable me to 

 establish the species on a more solid basis ; but though certain small 

 differences are discernible, such as the somewhat smaller size, and the 

 black narrow collar of the American, &c, yet we are aware that such 

 trifling differences occur between individuals of the same species ; we 

 shall, therefore, not rely on them until our observations shall have been 

 repeated on numerous recent or living specimens. In the meantime, 

 should the species prove to be distinct, it may be distinguished by the 

 appropriate name of G. semipalmatus." — Ed. 



