Squatarola cinerea (Fleming).
GREY PLOVER.
SQUATAROLA CINEREA (Fleming).
Squatarola cinerea, Fleming, Brit. An. p. I l l (1828).
Chararlrius squatarola, Naum, vii. p. 249, xiii. p. 230.
Pluvialis squatarola, Macg. iv. p. 86.
Squatarola helvetica, Yarr. ed. 4, iii. p. 278; Dresser, vii.
p. 455.
Vanneau-Pluvier, French; Grauer Regenpfeiffer, German;
Redoblin, Chorlito plateado, Spanish.
This beautiful species is only known to me as a bird
of passage on the shores of our own islands, of many
parts of the Mediterranean, and certain marshy coast-
districts of Spain outside of the Straits of Gibraltar.
I found it in large numbers on the lower Guadalquivir
during the first fortnight of May 1872, consorting with
myriads of Knots, and many other waders. Almost
all of the specimens then obtained by our party had
assumed the full summer plumage represented in the
Plate. In general habits the Grey Plover closely
resembles the better-known Gclden Plover, and considerable
confusion has been caused amongst English
sportsmen in Ireland by the fact that the natives of that
island almost invariably apply the term “ Grey ” to the
latter species to distinguish it from the Peewit, which,
throughout Ireland, is known as ** Green ” Plover. In
my experience the present species is seldom to be met