CHARADRlIDiE. 



547 



THE GOLDEN PLOVER. 



Charadrius pluvialis, Linnaius. 



The Golden Plover breeds in the British Islands, but it is most 

 plentifully and generally distributed on its migrations and during 

 the colder months of the year. Early in August a few birds with 

 faded black breasts make their appearance, while large flocks of young 

 usually arrive towards the end of September, and these are followed 

 from October to November by the adults which have moulted. A 

 return northward is noticed in March, when the birds which have 

 their breeding-places on our moorlands retire from the coasts which 

 they have frequented during the winter ; but long after these have 

 been engaged in the task of incubation, flocks from the south con- 

 tinue to pass northward ; the plumage of the later arrivals being, as 

 a rule, far darker, especially as regards the black breast, than that of 

 our home-keeping individuals. These nest sparingly on the high 

 ground in Devon and Somerset, more plentifully in Breconshire and 

 other counties of Wales and the Marches, and in increasing abundance 

 from Derbyshire northward to Sutherland. In the Orkneys, Shet- 

 lands, and Hebrides this species is common, and enormous numbers 

 frequent the pastures and shores in winter. In Ireland it breeds on 

 many of the mountains and several of the bogs, while vast flocks or 



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