Genus LXXIV. CHARADRIUS. PLOVER. 
Species I. C. HIATICULA. 
RINGED PLOVER* 
[Plate XXXVII. Fig. 3.f] 
Lath. Syn. v., p. 201, 8. — Arct. Zool. 11., No. 401. — Petit Pluvier, a collier, Buff, 
viii., p. 90-6. — PI. Enl. 921. — Pluvialis Tor quota minor, Briss. v., p. 63, 8, t. 5, 
f. 2. — Turt. Syst. p. 411, 2. 
It was not altogether consistent with my original plan to introduce 
any of the Grallae or Waders, until I had advanced nearer to a close 
with the Land Birds ; but as the scenery here seemed somewhat appro- 
priate, I have taken the liberty of placing in it two birds, reduced to 
one-third of their natural size, both being varieties of their respective 
species, each of which will appear in their proper places, in some future 
volume of this work, in full size and in their complete plumage. 
The Ring Plover is very abundant on the low sandy shores of our 
whole seacoast, during summer. They run, or rather seem to glide, 
rapidly along the surface of the flat sands ; frequently spreading out 
their wings and tail like a fan, and fluttering along, to draw or entice 
one away from their nests. These are formed with little art ; being 
merely shallow concavities dug in the sand, in which the eggs are laid, 
and, during the day at least, left to the influence of the sun to hatch 
them. The parents, however, always remain near the spot to protect 
them from injury, and probably in cold rainy or stormy weather, to 
shelter them with their bodies. The eggs are three, sometimes four, 
large for the bird, of a dun clay color, and marked with numerous small 
spots of reddish purple. 
The voice of these little birds, as they move along the sand, is soft 
and musical, consisting of a single plaintive note occasionally repeated. 
As you approach near their nests, they seem to court your attention, 
* Wilson in his account of the following species gives reasons for supposing this 
bird to be specifically different from the Ring Plover of Plate LIX. It is un- 
doubtedly a distinct species ; and has been named by Mr. Ord, Piping Plover — 0. 
Melodus. The synonymes given by our author do not of course apply to this 
species. 
f Adult in spring dress. 
(355) 
