Ki:XTI8H IM.OVKIL 
ClfARADKlUS CANTJJNm. 
Tins diminutive Plover was first diseovered in Kent at the elose of the last eentiiry, and derives its 
scientific appellation from the county in uiiich it was obtained ; in Sussex it is almost equally plentiful, 
and a feu ha\e regulaily come under my observation while shooting in spring and autumn on Prevdon 
mudflats in Norfolk. In no other part of the country have I met with tliis neat and attractive bird, 
though its similarity to the Pinged Plover may reasonably he supposed to account for a straggler having 
been occasionally overlooked. 
Along the flat line of coast lying between Pye Harbour and Hungeness this species was formerly very 
abundant: during the last twenty years, however, they have greatly decreased in numbers, their nests 
having been plundered to supjfly the demands of collectors, and the birds themselves shot down for the 
same purpose. The first arrivals not unfrequently put in an appearance about the middle or latter end of 
April, hut ]\Iay had usually set in before any numbers were observed. The nest in this locality is invariably 
placed in the sand or fine gravel a little above high-water mark : I never observed one on the grass-marshes 
a quarter of a mile or so inland, which are often resorted to by the Pinged Plover. By the close of summer the 
young birds are seen in small parties on tlie sands to the cast of Rye Harbour, betaking themselves, as the tide 
rises, to the mudflats in the Nook and the slades and watercourses adjoining the beach in Romney Marsh. 
In September 1809 I noticed for several days an immense gathering of immature IVaders on the sands 
between Camber Coastguard Station and the harbour mouth : the birds composing tliis flock covered at 
least a square half-mile of ground when spread out to feed at the small pools on the flats, tlie various 
species keeping for the most part to themselves, though occasionally intermixing while changing their 
quarters. Sanderlings proved to he the most numerous, though at least a hundred Curlew Sandpipers 
were present, and there were also several small parties of a score or so of Kentish Plovers, which, when 
alarmed and rising on wing, struck out a course for themselves without joining any of the larger flights. 
Dunlins, Ringed Plovers, and a few Knots were also scattered about, while Gulls and Terns in hundreds 
hovered over the tide-way or flapped slowly up and down the course of the winding channel towards the 
harbour, the immense concourse of Waders and Sea-fowl making up a most animated scene. 
After the first week in October I never met with this species, neither have I heai’d of a specimen having 
been obtained or seen by either the fishermen or coast-gunners, wdio are perpetually on the look-out for any 
varieties. 
On Breydon mudflats, where a few Kentish Plovers stop for a day or two during spring and autumn while 
on their passage to and from the north, these birds are known as Alexandra Plovei’s among the professional 
punt-gunners. 
