THE KENTISH PLOVER. 527 



after which they become as adults but are distinguished by sandy - 

 buff edges (when not too abraded) to some retained juvenile median 

 (especially innermost) and lesser wing-coverts. 



Measurements and structure. — $ wing 109-118 mm., tail 43-46, 

 tarsus 25.5-29, bill from feathers 14-15 (12 measured). $ wing 

 106-117, bill 14-15 (one 16). Primaries : 1st minute, 2nd longest, 

 3rd equal or 2-5 mm. shorter, 4th 6-9 shorter, 5th 14-17 shorter, 

 6th 23-26 shorter. Longest inner secondary between 3rd and 6th 

 primaries. Tail square, two central pairs exceeding rest. Bill short 

 and slender, upper mandible slightly convex at tip. Other structure 

 as in C. h. hiaticula. 



Soft parts. — Bill black ; legs and feet lead-grey ; iris dark 

 brown. 



Characters and allied forms. — G. a. dealbatus (S. China to 

 Japan) has stouter and longer bill ; C. a. seebohmi (Ceylon) is 

 smaller ; C. a. nivosus (N. and S. America) has no black on lores. 

 Distinguished in all plumages from C. h. hiaticula and C. d. curonicus 

 by three white outer pairs of tail-feathers. 



Field -characters. — Distinguished by black legs from orange - 

 legged Ringed Plover ; it is besides smaller and greyer above, whilst 

 black markings are fainter, breast-band merely an obscure black 

 patch on each side of breast. Call-note " trr." Love-song, uttered 

 in wavering flight like Pinged Plover's, described as " trit-tritrit- 

 ritrirri." Alarm-cry when young in danger "too-it, too-it, ittup, 

 ittup." 



Breeding-habits. — In British Isles only found on shingle banks, 

 but abroad also on sandy flats, dried mud, etc., sometimes far 

 inland. Nest. — A mere hollow in shingle or sand, occasionally lined 

 bits of lichen, twig, shell or dead leaves. Eggs. — Normally 3 but 

 abroad 4 have been rarely met with and sets of 5 are said to 

 have been found at Dungeness, 1904-6 ; without gloss, yellowish- 

 stone with black streaks and spots as a rule, but varying in large 

 series from pale stone to deep olive-brown and greenish-brown, 

 while erythristic type has also occurred. Markings at times form 

 zone of interlaced lines at big end. Average of 100 eggs, 32.5 X 23.5. 

 Max.: 35.2x23.7 and 32x25. Min. : 30.2x23.2 and 32.6x22.5 

 mm. Breeding-season. — From end April onward to July, but most 

 eggs laid in May. Incubation. — Apparently by both sexes. Period 

 not definitely known ; Naumann's figures (15-17 days) probably 

 under estimated. Apparently single brooded. 



Food. — Small insects and their larva?, especially coleoptera and 

 diptera ; also apparently a small species of spider ; and small 

 mollusca (Helix sp.), as well as worms. Sandhoppers also taken 

 abroad and probably in England as well. 



Distribution. — England. — Summer -resident (2nd week April, early 

 dates Sussex March 24, 1909, 31st, 1910) to late Sept. (late dates 

 Kent Oct. 10, 1907, Hants. Lt., Oct. 9/10, 1910). Breeds only 



