haps, to name here more particularly the countries in which it has been observed. Nilsson states that it
occasionally visits Sweden in summer, Temminck that it is found in Germany and Central Europe ; it certainly
inhabits Provence and Ita ly ; Bailly gives it a place in his ‘ Ornithologie de la S a v o i e L o r d Lilford
found it tolerably abundant in Corfu in April and May, particularly in the Val de Corissia and Potamo, but
only remaining a few days; Mr. Wright says it is common in Malta and Gozo, where it arrives in March.
Messrs. Dickson and Ross sent specimens to the Zoological Society from Erzeroum, in Persia, where it
appears, remarks Yarrell, “ to be numerous about the middle o f Ju n e on the sandy and pebbly banks o f the
Aras, at Hassan Kaleh, eighteen miles east o f E r z e r o um M e y e r states that it occurs in Nubia and Abyssinia,
Mr. Swinhoe that it is abundant in China and Formosa; Yon Schrenck includes it in the birds of
Amoorlaud, and Temminck among those o f Japan.
Although so widely distributed, and, as one would have supposed, having necessarily come under the notice
o f many observers, very little has been recorded o f its habits. Mr. Hoy informed Mr. Hewitson that “ it
appears to be very rarely found on the sea-coast, but frequents in preference the banks o f rivers, where it
breeds. It lays its eggs on the sand, not a particle of grass o r other material being used. It is very partial
to sand banks forming islands, such as are often met with in some o f the larger rivers on the Continent. It
may also frequently be found during the breeding-season upon those large extents o f sand which are met
with at some little distance from the borders of rivers overgrown in p art with a coarse wiry grass.” Mr.
Yarrell describes the egg as of a pale yellowish stone-colour, numerously spotted with bluish ash, reddish
brown, and dark brown, and as measuring 1| inch in length by I o f an inch in breadth.
Bailly states that “ the Little Ringed Plover is somewhat more abundant in Savoy than the JE. hiaticula.
I t arrives in small flights at the end of March or the beginning o f April, at the same time as its congener.
F o r the purpose o f breeding, they mostly resort to the borders o f rivers and springs o f the south o f E u ro p e;
but a few, as soon as they arrive here, disperse in couples for the same purpose. In May and June
they and their young are to be met with on the gravelly borders of the Rhone, the Lake o f Bourget,
the torrent of Hyeres, &c., and rarely in other localities than the neighbourhood o f water.
“ Its habits, manners, and gait are very similar to those o f the ordinary species. I f the nest or young be
approached, the old birds rise and fly round the intruder in circles, repeatedly uttering their small piercing
cries, and have recourse to various artifices to entice him from the neighbourhood of the nest.
“ At the end o f August, sometimes in September, and occasionally as late as the commencement of
October, the old and young unite in small flocks, often in company with other Plovers, and proceed on
their autumnal migration, when they fly low, and frequently call to each other with flute-like cries. Sometimes
they are so close together that several are killed at a single sh o t; and among the victims are often
found examples o f /E . hiaticula and JE. cant/anus
The Little Ring-Plover is said to migrate in small companies o f from five to ten in number, the movement
being always made a t night to be sociable in its habits, several broods being brought out in the
same locality and not shy, but admitting of a somewhat near approach. Its food consists o f Jarae,
worms, and the infinite number o f insects which occur on the borders o f the waters it frequents.
The figures in the foreground o f the accompanying Plate are o f the natural size. The reduced one in
the distance may . be that o f a young bird of the first autumn.