134 
PRJSCOCIAL GRALLATORES — LIMICOLJ5. 
While the coloration of this species bears considerable resemblance to that of the Golden 
Plovers ( Gharadrius ), it may be readily distinguished, in all stages, apart from other marked 
differences, by the dusky black axillars, these feathers being either smoky gray or pure white in 
the species of Gharadrius. 
The well-known Beetle-liead, or Black-bellied Plover, is eminently cosmopolitan 
in its distribution, ranging over the northern portions of Asia, Europe, and North 
America during its periods of reproduction, at other times wandering in an irregular 
manner, in scattered groups, over Southern Asia, Northern and even Southern Africa, 
Australia, the West Indies, and Central and South America to Brazil. 
Mr. Swinhoe (Ibis, 1863, p. 404) mentions finding this species frequenting the 
shores and the mouths of the rivers of Formosa during winter. This writer after- 
ward speaks of meeting with it in small flocks, in the same season, on the river 
mud-flats at Amoy, where they were seen up to February, but not later. One was 
kept in an aviary at Amoy, but appeared to have undergone no change in plumage as 
late as the end of May. Mr. Swinhoe also records the procuring of a single specimen 
on the Island of Hainan ; it was shot in the Hungpe Lagoon on the 30tli of March. 
Captain Sperling found this bird common at Zanzibar, where in November he procured 
it in immature plumage. Dr. Andrew Smith noticed it at Algoa Bay, in South 
Africa, all through the breeding-season, and brought specimens to England ; but as 
none had the black color on the breast, it is not probable that any were actually 
breeding. Mr. Blyth has obtained this bird at Calcutta; and Mr. Temminck has 
received it from Japan in both the summer and winter plumage. Specimens from 
the Sunda Islands and from New Guinea, though killed at different seasons, were all 
in the immature or winter plumage. This species is also included by Dr. Horsfield 
in his list of the birds of Java. Dr. Middendorff mentions this Plover as one of the 
birds of Siberia, and gives it in his hyperborean list, which includes the birds pene- 
trating to the extreme north. Mr. Saunders (Ibis, 1871) states that this Plover is 
not uncommon in Southern Spain during its migrations. The first specimens were 
obtained at Malaga in May. During the winter few were met with, the majority 
having evidently gone farther south. Mr. Wheelwright obtained old birds of this 
species on the southern coast of Scania in August, in nearly full summer dress, as 
well as those of the year, and inferred that they must have bred somewhere on the 
European continent. He is confident they do not breed at Quickiock, nor have any 
of its eggs been taken there by Mr. Wolley or by any one else. Still he thinks that 
they must breed somewhere on the Scandinavian fells, and they were found breeding 
in 1862 in Finland, by Mr. Tristram. Professor A. Newton described an egg (P. Z. S. 
4 861) which was taken by Middendorff on the Taimyr River, North Russia, lat. 74°, 
July 1, 1843; and Mr. Wheelwright received what were said to be the eggs of this 
species from Greenland, and which resembled those of the European C. pluvialis. 
Messrs. Alston and Brown (Ibis, January, 1873) mention meeting with this species 
near Archangel, Russia, June 2. In Great Britain, Farrell gives it as a winter visitor, 
and not a native resident. It occurs at the end of autumn, through the winter, and 
in the spring, retiring to high northern latitudes during the breeding-season, and 
re-appearing when that season is over. Specimens in the full black plumage may 
occasionally be procured in the London market in May. Mr. Selby met with a few 
of these birds in the Fen Islands in June, but could never detect any young. In the 
winter this Plover is more common on the shores than inland. It is more abundant 
in Holland and in France than in Germany, and is also found at Genoa and in Italy 
generally, passing through Sicily on its way to and from Africa. 
