SPUR-WINGED PLOVER. 



Pluvianus spinosus. 

 Charadrius spinosus, Auct. 

 Le Pluvier arme. 



This species of Plover is said occasionally to visit the southern and eastern portions of Europe ; and when we 

 consider the wide range it possesses in the adjoining countries, we cannot wonder at this circumstance, it being 

 abundant over nearly the whole of Northern Africa, Asia Minor, &c. Dr. Latham informs us that it 

 " inhabits Russia, and is frequent near Aleppo, about the river Coic. The Spur-winged Plovers are very 

 numerous and exceedingly noisy; have a hasty and almost continual movement of the head and neck, 

 drawing them up briskly, and then stretching them quickly forward, almost as if they were making hasty and 

 eager bows." 



Of its nidification nothing is at present known. 



The sexes are so closely alike in plumage that one description will serve for both. 



Bill, crown and back of the head, a broad stripe down the centre of the throat, breast, abdomen, primaries, 

 and the tips of the tail-feathers deep black ; the outer feather of the latter finely tipped with white ; sides 

 and back of the neck, under surface of the wings, secondaries, greater wing-coverts, flanks, vent, upper and 

 under tail-coverts pure white ; back and remainder of the wings greyish brown tinged with olive ; legs, feet, 

 and spur on the shoulder brownish black. 



Our Plate represents a male of the natural size. 



