l82 THE BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



Sub-family CHARADRIIN^. Plovers. 



Bill short ; legs moderate ; hind toe, if present, short and 

 elevated, usually absent. 



Golden PlOYer. Charadrlns apricarius Linn. 



The Golden Plover (Plate -]"]) is found throughout northern 

 and central Europe and western Asia, and in winter in Africa 

 and southern Asia. In the British Isles it is a widespread 

 resident, probably summer visitor, and abundant winterer and 

 passage migrant. It nests sparingly in Somerset and Devon, 

 but throughout Wales and from the Derbyshire Peak northward 

 to the Scottish islands, as well as in Ireland, it is common on 

 all suitable moors. 



The Golden Plover is a typical plover, far more so than the 

 round-winged Green Plover or Lapwing; it has sharply pointed 

 angled wings and rapid flight, and is a plump, bullet-headed, 

 short-billed bird with a high forehead, which runs lightly 

 over pastures or coastal mud. It is a more inland bird than 

 the Grey Plover, its nearest relative, from which it can be 

 distinguished by the absence of the hind toe. In the field, 

 apart from its yellower dress, it may be recognised by its white 

 axillaries ; when it raises the wings and holds them for a second 

 stiffly, which it frequently does when stretching, and also when 

 it alights, the Golden shows a white under surface, but in the 

 Grey the axillaries are a dark patch on a dusky ground. 



During spring and summer the moors are the haunt of 

 the "Whistler," a name given from its frequently repeated 

 liquid call. On the Pennines the shepherd knows it as the 

 "Sheep's Guide," for it warns his flock if a man appears. On 

 the shore and in the lowland fields in February some birds 

 show traces of the black under parts of summer, and by April 

 all have attained full breedinij dress. The birds move to the 



