FAMILY XVII. 
PEE S SIP OS THE S, Cuvier. 
GENUS XXXIX. — CHARADRIUS, Linn.eus. 
SUBGENU S I. CHARADRIUS, LINNAEUS. 
193 . CHARADRIUS MELODUS , BONAPARTE. 
CHARADRIUS HIATICULA , WILSON. RINGED PLOVER. 
WILSON, PLATE XXXVII. FIG. III. ADULT. 
EDINBURGH COLLEGE MUSEUM. 
The ringed plover is very abundant on the low sandy 
shores of our whole sea coast during* summer. They 
run, or rather seem to glide, rapidly along the surface 
of the flat sands, frequently spreading out their wings 
and tail like a fan, and fluttering along, to draw or 
entice one away from their nests. These are formed 
with little art, being merely shallow concavities dug in 
the sand, in which the eggs are laid, and, during* the 
day at least, left to the influence of the sun to hatch 
them. The parents, however, always remain near the 
spot to protect them from injury, and, probably, in cold, 
rainy, or stormy weather, to shelter them with their 
bodies. The eggs are three, sometimes four, large for 
the bird, of a dun clay colour, and marked with nume- 
rous small spots of reddish purple. 
The voice of these little birds, as they move along 
the sand, is soft and musical, consisting of a single 
plaintive note occasionally repeated. As you approach 
near their nests, they seem to court your attention, 
and, the moment they think you observe them, they 
