104 
CHAEADRIIDtE. 
species could not be known with certainty), appeared on a floating 
patch of sleech-grass^^ [Zostera marina) waiting very patiently 
for the fall of the tide, each with its head under its wing, and all 
turned .with their bodies in one direction, as is usual with the 
Grallatores on such occasions. They thus present a formal rather 
than a picturesque aspect, which latter the heron does under 
similar circumstances. Large flocks of lapwings were on flight 
above the bay ; the day was fine and beautifully bright, as the 
weather has been, excepting on one day, for some time past ; 
thus showing that severe weather is not the cause of this last 
species coming to the sea-shore. 
THE KENTISH PLOYER. 
Charadriiis Cantianus, Latham. 
Is known only as an extremely rare visitant to our shores. 
So lately as August 1848 I first became acquainted with the 
circumstance of its occurrence. On the 23rd of that month, two 
of these birds were killed by an intelligent lad at the same shot 
(from a shoulder-gun) with nine ringed plover and a dunlin, far 
up Belfast bay. The shooter remarked the two birds to be dif- 
ferent from any he had ever seen ; that their bills and legs were 
as black as those of the dunlin, while the same parts of the ringed 
plover were yellow or orange- coloured ; they were also noticed as 
being smaller than the latter. On being shown the specimens of 
this tribe of birds in the Belfast Museum, he at once pointed out 
the Kentish plover as being of the same species as his victims. 
A young relative of my own shot one of these birds about the 
same time in Belfast bay, opposite Richmond lodge. It was 
feeding in company with ringed plover, some of which also fell 
at the discharge ; its black legs and other distinguishing marks 
were particularly observed; but owing to thoughtlessness, both 
this and the other two specimens were suffered to be lost. It 
may be remarked that the nearly allied ringed plover were con- 
