2 
RINGED PLOVER. 
of greater ^yeight, differ much in the colouring of the plumage of the back, which is of a far lif^liter 
tint of greyish brown ; tlie legs arc also more fleshy and of a paler hue, the colour being a yellow Lsh- 
tint, while those of the smaller race are always of a bright and often of a deep orange-yellow. These 
small forms do not make their appearance on our shores till after the larger are well on with their 
nesting-operations. The following extracts taken from my journals will show the dates at which the 
smaller were passing over our coasts, and the time when the larger forms were observed while enga<>ed 
with their eggs or young : — 
“ May 5, 1880. Over at Shoreham. Wind north-east, very cold. Several flocks of the small Riimed 
Plover lately landed were feeding on the muds in the harbour at low water and resorting to the shin °le- 
banks when the tide flowed. Eggs of the larger form were seen on the shingle-banks, several pairs 
being met with between the Shoreham Coastguard Station and the west end of the wide water opposite 
“ May 21, 1881. MTnd west. Rrood of four young of the Ringed Plover (larger form) seen runninc^ 
after the old birds on the mud in the harbour near the ferry at Shoreham. Many of the small variety 
in flocks flying up and down the tide-way in the river at low water.” I never met with a chance of 
examining a nest of the small form of the Ringed Plover, and believe that the whole of this diminutive 
race proceed further north to rear their young. 
So late in the season as August 23rd, in 1870, I noticed a downy brood of tliis speeies near the 
Coastguard Station at Shoreham ; these must have been a second brood, unless the birds had suffered 
from repeated losses of their former eggs or young. Large flocks of both Dunlins and Kin-ed Plovers in 
immature plumage were at the same time driven into the harbour by a heavy gale accompanied by 
uniting squalls of rain. 
The colours of the soft parts of an immature bird shot at Shoreham on the 16th of September 
1882 were as follows ;-Bill black, with the exception of a dingy yellow-ochre tinge at the base; le-s 
and feet pale livid greenish yellow; soles of feet yellow. 
