Oebee LIMICOL^.] 
[Eam. CHARADEITDiE 
CHAEADEIUS OESCUEUS. 
(NEW-ZEALAND DOTTREL.) 
Dushj Plover, Lath. Gen. Syn. iii. pt. 1, p. 211 (1785). 
Charadrius olscurus, Gm. Syst. Nat. i. p. 686 (1788). 
Chnradrim glareola, Forst. Descr. Anim. p. 109 (1844). 
P! uviorhynchm obscurus, Bonap. C. R. xliii. p, 417 (1856). 
iSative names. — Tutnriwhati and Tuturiwhatu. 
Ad. ptil. (Bstiv. snpra sordicle cinereus, ochraceo-rufo lavatus^ plumis omnibus hoc colore marginatis : collo postico 
paullo dilutiore cinereo ; tectricibus alarum dilute cinereis, pallidius marginatis, majoribus anguste albido 
terminatis : remigibus cinerascenti-brirnneis, extiis et versus apicem saturatioribus, scapis alhis, remigibus 
minoribus et secundariis extimis basin versus albis et conspieue albo terminatis, secundariis dorsalibus dorso 
concoloribus : cauda saturatius brunnefl,, rectricibus externis magis cinerascentibus albo terminatis, penna 
extima fere albida ; loris et supercilio distincto fulvescenti-albis : regione parotica brunnescente : subtus 
ocbrascenti-rufus, genis et gula pallidioribus : hypochondriis cum crisso et subcaudalibus albidis : subalaribus 
et axillaribus albis : rostro nigro : pedibus plumbeis : iride nigr^. 
Ad. ptil. Mem. similis ptilosi aestivae, sed sordidior : suprb dilute cinereus, baud rufescente lavatis : subtus albicans, 
pectore superiore laterali cincrascente. 
Adult in summer. Crown of the head, hind part of neck, and all the upper surface greyish brown, each feather 
narrowly margined with chestnut • a small spot on the forehead, and all the chin white ; throat, fore neck, 
and uuderparts of the body chestnut-brown ; lining of wings, flanks, lower part of abdomen, and under tail- 
coverts white j wing-feathers brownish black, the first primary having the entire shaft white, and the rest 
white in their median portion. Irides and bill black; legs and feet leaden grey. Length 10'5 inches; 
extent of wings 21 , wing, from flexure, 6'5 ; tail 2‘75 ; bill, along the ridge I’l, along the edge of lower 
mandible 1'2; bare tibia '5; tarsus 1'4; middle toe and claw 1'2. 
Adult in 'winter. Upper surface gi eyish brown, without the chestnut margins ; underparts pure white, the breast 
crossed by an interrupted zone of dark grey, and the sides of the body tinged with the same. 
Obs. It ought to be mentioned that the extent and depth of the chestnut colouring of the underparts vary 
appreciably in different individuals. I have found one with the fore neck, breast, and all the underparts of 
a bright rufous brown, whilst in another killed in the same locality and at the same time there is a mere 
wash of chestnut on the underparts. I have seen a pair ( ^ and ? ) shot in company at the height of the 
breeding-season, in both of which there was only a faint wash of cinnamon on the underparts, and much 
white on the secondaries, the outer vanes being almost wholly white. Birds in transitional plumage Avith 
rufous patches, or scattered summer feathers of a bright colour intermixed with the white, are common 
enough and are met with all the year round. 
This fine species, altliough nowhere very plentiful, is dispersed along the whole of our shores, 
frequenting the ocean-beaches and the sand-fiats at the mouths of all our tidal rivers. It, moreover, 
inhabits the interior, and appears to affect very high altitudes. The late Sir J. von Haast sent me 
specimens obtained by him far up in the Southern Alps ; Mr. Enys states that he has met with it at 
VOL. II, 
B 
