PIPING PLOVER. 
Although the never too much lamented Wilson gave, in his 
fifth volume, the present bird as a variety of which he intended 
figuring the type in a future part of his work, when he came to it 
in his seventh volume, he clearly and positively pointed out the 
difference in markings, habits, migrations, and voice, between the 
two which he then considered as distinct species : he thus in 
reality established the species, and indeed so well, that we cannot 
do better than refer to his conclusive reasonings. The only 
essential point he omitted was to impose a name on his species, 
which he undoubtedly would have done had he lived to publish 
himself the index to the water birds, as, in some instances, he 
supplied similar deficiencies for the land birds. Mr. Ord has, 
however, filled this void by calling the bird C. melodus, which 
appropriate name we feel bound to adopt; and the more so, as 
Mr. Ord informs us that it would have been Wilson’s own choice. 
Almost simultaneously with our endeavours in this country for 
permanently fixing the species, Dr. Wagler in Europe, on his 
part, was also giving it a name, so that it is now furnished with 
two. 
In the circumstance of its inner toe being cleft to the base, this 
bird approaches more closely to C. hiaticula of Europe, than to C. 
semipalmatus; but in colours it differs greatly from these so 
similar species, and the membrane that connects the outer toe is 
considerably smaller than in any. The synonyms of Wilson do 
not of course apply to this new species; and what is worse, though 
this is common to all writers upon the Ring-Plover, they do not 
belong to one and the same species. 
Although, without doubt, related to the Tringas, which are 
Scolopacidze, the Plovers belong to another family, that of the 
Pressirostres of Cuvier—which may be called Charadridse —and 
through Otis and (Edicnemus these Waders are connected some¬ 
what with the Gallinaceous birds. This natural family of ours, 
