^ ^ S !h T X & V S Ç & f i
KENT I S H PLOVER.
Ch a rad rius Cantianus, L a th .
L e P lu v ie r à co llier interrompu.
I ¡Ü I “I “!- ■ “ We" 38 “ l0CaHt!eS’ thi8 interesti” g I Hover is closely allied to the Bing
— ÏÏÊÊÊSÊÊÊË md WC haVe H reason t0 suPP°se that 1 « often mistaken by casual observers
for that to d . aswhen seen m a state o f nature, unless approached tuny nearly, they are scarcely distinguish-
a b k : no Ornithologist could nnstake it upon actual examination; its smaller size, blacklegs, and the
H I 9 n, WblCh c h a r a c t e r k e s *h e ma Ie . S U a marked ground o f distinction. As
the Kentish Plover is a species still ,n great request by most collectors o f our native birds, we have the
pleasure o f stating, that i f sought for m the localities hereafter mentioned it will assuredly be met with, our
own experience enabling us to assert that it annually breeds in many parts o f this Island. We have received
it in considerable abundance from Great Yarmouth in Norfolk, which, as far as we have been able to ascertain
forms its northern boundary in this country. It is also found along the flat and shingly beaches o f Kent and
feussex ; and we may particularise Selsey beach, the immediate neighbourhood o f Hastings, and Shellness near
Sandwich as places where, i f sought for in the months o f May, June and July, it is sure to he met with.
During the last season several pairs were shot near Sandwich by the Rev. George Clayton, o f Much Had!,.™
near Bishops Stortford, Herts. The opposite coasts o f France and Holland, where a similar character o f shore
prevails, are also among the places to which it pays annual visits.
As we have before mentioned, the actions o f the Kentish Plover are strictly similar to those o f the Bing
Dottrel, in whose company it is often found, the instinct o f both species leading them to prefer the sèa-shore
its inlets and creeks, seldom venturing from these localities to visit the fresh waters. Like the rest o f ¡té
genus, it is quick and active in its motions, running with great celerity, with its head depressed below the
level o f ils back, over the loose shingles and muddy flats o f the shore, and occasionally taking short and
circular flights, returning almost to the same spot, uttering while on the wing a brief and mournful note
repeated at short intervals.
Its food consists o f small marine insects and worms, which it searches for among the loose stones, sand
and oozy mud; to which it also adds the smaller kinds o f slender-shelled bivalves.
It lays its eggs, which are five in number and o f a yellow olive marked with irregular spots and blotches of
dark brown, in depressions on the naked sand, or among the shells and shingles o f the beach.
M. Temminck informs us that the moult o f this bird is single, taking place in autumn, as he has often had
opportunities o f observing.
In the adult male the colours o f the plumage are as follows. Forehead, eyelids, a band on the back o f the
neck, and all the under parts, o f pure white ; the space between the eye and the beak, a band on the forehead
and a large spot on each side o f the breast, o f a deep black ; behind the eye, a large dark grey mark • thé
head and back o f the neck, o f a light reddish brown ; the upper parts, o f a brownish ash colour ; the éuill-
feathers slightly edged with white ; the two lateral tail-feathers white, the third whitish, and the others brown-
beak, irides and feet, black.
The female wants the black band on the forehead, its place being occupied by a little transverse bar • the
sides o f the breast, the space between the eye and the beak, and the region behind the eyes, are ashy brown •
and the back o f the head and neck is tinged with grey. ’
The young o f the year differ from the adult females chiefly in having the feathers o f the upper part o f a
light ashy brown, each feather being edged with a lighter tint o f the same colour; and the lateral markings
of the breast being indicated by light brown.
We have figured a male and female, in their adult plumage, o f the natural size.