, which it has been observed. Nilsson states that it
Temminck that it is found in Germany and Central Europe ;_ it cer-

tainly inhabits Provence and Italy ; Bailly gives it a place in his ‘ Ornithologie de la Savoie ;’ Lord Lilford
found it tolerably abundant in Corfu in April and May, particularly in the Val de Corissia and Potamo, buat
only remaining a few days; Mr. Wright says it is common 1n Malta and Gozo, where Me arrives in March.
Ncaare. Dickson and Ross sent specimens to the Zoological Society from Erzeroum, in Persia, where it
“to be numerous about the middle of June on the sandy and pebbly banks of the
” Meyer states that it occurs in Nubia and Abys-

haps, to name here more particularly the countries ll

occasionally visits Sweden in summer,

appears, remarks Yarrell,

: ; ere :
Aras, at Hassan Kaleh, eighteen miles east of Erzeroum ;
sinia, Mr. Swinhoe that it is abundant in China and Formosa ; Von Schrenck includes it in the birds of

Amoorland, and Temminck among those of Japan.
Although so widely distributed, and, as one would have supposed, having necessarily come under the notice
very little has been recorded of its habits. Mr. Hoy informed Mr. Hewitson that “ it

found on the sea-coast, but frequents in pr
of grass or other material being used. It is very partial

of many observers,
eference the banks of rivers, where it

appears to be very rarely
breeds. It lays its eggs on the sand, not a particle
to sand banks forming islands, such as are often met with in some of the larger rivers on the Continent. It

may also frequently be found during the bree
distance from the borders of rivers overgrown in part with a coarse wiry grass.” Mr.
-colour, numerously spotted with bluish ash, red-

ding-season upon those large extents of sand which are met

with at some little
Yarrell describes the egg as of a pale yellowish stone
dish brown, and dark brown, and as measuring 14 inch in length by

Bailly states that ‘ the Little Ringed Plover is somewhat more abundant in Savoy than the 4. heaticula.
It arrives in small flights at the end of March or the beginning of April, at the same time as its congener.
borders of rivers and springs of the south of Europe;

7 of an inch in breadth.

For the purpose of breeding, they mostly resort to the
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 of Bourget,
the torrent of Hyeres, &c., and rarely in other localities than the neighbourhood of water.

‘Its habits, manners, and gait are very similar to those of the ordinary species. If the nest or young be
approached, the old birds rise and fly round the intruder in circles, repeatedly uttering their small pier-
cing cries, and have recourse to various artifices to entice him from the neighbourhood of the nest.

“At the end of 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. Some-
times they are so close together that several are killed at a single shot; and among the victims are often
found examples of 4. hiaticula and 4B. cantianus.”

The Little Ring-Plover is said to migrate in small companies of from five to ten in number, the movement
being always made at 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 of larvee,
worms, and the infinite number of insects which occur on the borders of the waters it frequents.

The figures in the foreground of the accompanying Plate are of the natural size, The reduced one in

the distance may be that of a young bird of the first autumn.