96 
THE RIXG PLOVER. 
assistant could not avoid exclaiming — What stupid birds 
these are ! " The female that had young, nevertheless, 
evinced considerable anxiety for their safety, whenever we 
came near the place where they were concealed ; and as long 
as we remained in the vicinity, constantly flew to and fro 
above US; uttering her note of alarm.' 
PvIXr., OU SAND PLOVERS. 
These birds constitute a genus of the PluvialinG family, 
to which has been applied the name CharadriuSj which 
formerly stood for the whole of the Plover group. I\Iany 
species are included in this genus, but three only are known 
as British birds; these are, The Kinged Sand Plover 
RING PLO^-EE. 
(Charadius Hiaticidci)^ variously called the Eing or Stone 
Plover, Stone Hutch, Eing Dotterel, Sand Lark, Sandy 
Laverock, or Loo, and Dulwilly ; The Kentish Sand 
Plover (C. Cantianus)\ and The Little Eing Plover (C. 
minor)^ sometimes called the Little Eing Dotterel. These 
birds are all distinguished by a white ring round the throat, 
relieved by a band of brownish black ; the first species is 
about eight inches in length, the second seven, and tl^ie third 
six and a- half. They have all, too, white and black banda 
