GOLDEN AND KENTISH PLOVERS 81 



and then commences the descent. As it gets nearer the earth 

 the song increases in volume and sweetness. Sometimes the 

 bird returns to the place from which it started, but not in- 

 variably. A Summer Migrant, arriving about mid-April, it 

 returns to the same haunt year after year. 

 Plumage. — Above ash-coloured, with an olive tinge, dark brown on 

 centre of each feather; across the wing a double band of 

 y ello wish- white ; white on the two outer feathers of the tail; 

 dull white on throat and near eye ; buff breast, with dark-brown 

 elongated spots; lower parts dull white. Length. — Six inches. 



PLOVER, GOLDEN (Charadrius filuvialis) 



Local Names. — Black-Breasted Plover, Graen Plover, Grey Plover, 

 Whistling Plover, Yellow Plover. 



Haunt. — Moors, fields, mudflats, and the seashore. 



Nesting Period. — May and June. 



Site of Nest. — On the ground. 



Materials Used. — A little grass or heath, but rarely any. 



Eggs. — Generally Four. Yellowish, handsomely blotched with 

 blackish-brown. A long, pointed egg. 



Food. — Insects, slugs, snails, worms, also tender parts of plants. 



Voice. — Call, a flute-like "klee-wee;" also " kelleeee," or " klo- 

 veeee." In Spring, "tirr-pee-yor." When a company utter 

 notes in unison the effect is very pleasing. 



Chief Features. — The change undergone in the dress, for the black 

 under parts of Summer are changed in Winter to pure white. 

 The name Golden Plover has been accorded because of the rich 

 golden spots which decorate the upper parts. Nests in the 

 North, but numbers come South in Winter, and often associate 

 with the Lapwings. 



Plumage. — Greyish-black upper parts, spotted with gamboge-yellow; 

 over the eye is a line of white, which runs down the neck and 

 reaches the flanks ; black underneath. The under parts change 

 to white after the Autumn moult, and the golden is of a brighter 

 character than earlier in the year. Length. — Eleven inches. 



PLOVER, KENTISH {JEgialitis cantiana) 



Local Name. — Kentish Dotterel. 



Haunt. — The seashore, especially where there is shingle. 

 Nesting Period. — May. 



Site of Nest. — Among shingle, broken stones, or sand. 

 Materials Used. — None. 



Eggs. — Three or Four. Buff stone-colour, closely spotted, blotched, 

 and scratched with blackish-brown and light inky-grey. 



