GREY PLOVER 231 
GREY PLOVER. Squatarola helvetica (Linneus). 
Coloured Figures.—Gould, ‘ Birds of Great Britain,’ vol. iv, pls. 
36, 37; Dresser, ‘ Birds of Europe,’ vol. vii, pls. 515, 517- 
519; Lilford, ‘ Coloured Figures,’ vol. v, pl. 15. 
Comparatively few observers, except those who devote 
special study to shore-birds, are familar with the Grey 
Plover. The ordinary gunner who tramps the fields and 
bog-lands of the open country knows but two species, the 
Golden and the Green Plover. In Ireland much confusion 
has arisen through calling the Golden the ‘ Grey,’ the only 
other Plover generally known being the Lapwing, Peewit, 
or Green Plover. It is not strange that the Golden Plover 
should be designated ‘grey’; there 1s nothing striking in 
its plumage comparable to the brilliant feathers of the 
Golden Oriole, the Golden Pheasant, the Goldfinch, the 
Golden-crested Wren, and of many other species too 
numerous to mention. 
The immature Grey Plover in its first winter-plumage, 
is speckled finely on the back and wings with pale yellow, 
thus closely resembling the Golden Plover, and making dis- 
tinction between the two species difficult, if the hind toe be 
not noticed (Plate XV., fig. 1). 
Alike, however, as the two species may be in markings, 
they have very distinctive habits. In autumn and winter 
the Grey Plover is essentially a shore-bird', and is only 
very exceptionally found away from the tide; the Golden, 
we have seen, is widely distributed over mountain, moor, 
and slob-land. 
The Grey Plover does not collect into closely-packed 
flocks ; I have, however, frequently counted as many as fifty 
birds on a salt-water marsh of the Dublin coast, but they 
have been invariably scattered over a considerable area. 
When flying, this species may be readily detected by 
its noticeable black axillary feathers. On examining a 
specimen, the small hind-toe, which is absent from the 
foot of the Golden Plover, is a distinctive feature. Though 
not numerous the Grey Plover is widely distributed 
along our low-lying coasts in autumn, winter, and spring. 
The majority of the birds arrive about the middle of 
September, and are nearly all immature; the adults in 
' Wilson states that in America, Grey Plovers in spring and summer, 
frequent ploughed fields away from the sea. 
