234 THE NESTS AND EGGS OF 



ingly marked, the spots being somewhat small, streaky, 

 and irregular in shape, with one or two irregular lines ; 

 another has the blotches predominating, but small in 

 size and mostly on the larger end of the ^g^ ; another 

 is very heavily blotched, chiefly at the large end of the 

 ^gg, most of them being confluent and joined by nar- 

 rower makings ; whilst another has large blotches, some 

 of them confluent over most of the surface. Average 

 measurement, 2'0 inches in length, by 1*4 inch in breadth. 

 Incubation is apparently performed by both sexes, as 

 MacFarlane records that a male was snared on one of 

 the nests obtained by him. The duration of the period 

 is unknown. 



Diagnostic characters : The eggs of the Gray 

 Plover resemble those of the Lapwing in colour, and 

 are about the same size, but the breeding grounds of 

 the two species do not impinge, so that the locality is 

 sufficient to identify them. 



Family CHARADRIID.'E. Genus Charadrius. 



Suli-family CHARADRIIN^. 



ASIATIC GOLDEN PLOVER. 



Charadrius fulvus, Gmelin. 



(British : Very rare abnormal autumn migrant.) 



Single Brooded. Laying season, end of June, or first half of 



July. 



Breeding area : North-eastern Palaearctic region. 

 The Asiatic Golden Plover breeds on the tundras above 

 the limits of forest growth of Eastern Siberia, from the 

 valley of the Yenesay to the Pacific coast. It has been 

 said to breed in New Caledonia. 



