RINGED PLOVER. 
67 
occur regularly elsewhere in America, though one example has 
been taken at Great Slave Lake ; but it is found throughout Europe, 
and ranges over northern Asia to Bering’s Straits. It is met with 
throughout the entire year in England, breeding as far south as 
Kent and Sussex, and ranges north to lat. 80° 45', and south (in 
winter) to the shores of Africa. 
Seebohm thinks that the bird found nesting in the British 
Islands is a larger and lighter-colored race, laying a larger egg; 
and he proposes to make it a sub-species and name it kiaticula 
niajor. 
Like others of the family, the Ringed Plover feeds on small thin- 
shelled crustaceans, such as shrimps, etc., and sea-worms, as well 
as on insects, which it catches with much adroitness ; and with its 
food it mingles small pebbles and particles of sand to aid digestion. 
The usual note of this bird is a melodious whistle ; but the call- 
note is harsh, while the cry of alarm, though noisy, is rather plain- 
tive. This last note has been written pew-y-et and too-it. The 
male, however, uses a distinct call-note during the mating-season. 
It is the same note as the usual call, but repeated so rapidly it forms 
a trill, and it is also delivered in more liquid tones. 
Phis Plover is described by Seebohm as a wild, wary bird when 
feeding in its winter-quartens, but quite the opposite when on its 
breeding-grounds in the Far North. It there becomes an unobtru- 
sive little creature, neither shy nor wary, and rarely displaying more 
than a shade of anxiety in its actions, — running but a little distance 
from an intruder, or flying to an adjacent knoll to watch his move- 
ments ; sometimes squatting close to the sand until almost under 
ones feet. It runs with great swiftness, pausing now and then, 
and darting away again. Keeping close to the edge of the water. 
It follows the receding waves picking up what food may have been 
stranded, and hastening shoreward as the waves return. 
Note. --A few examples of the Mountai.x Plover (Mgialitis 
montana) have been taken in Florida. The usual habitat of this 
species is from the Great Plains westward. 
