242 THE GREY PLOVER 
beyond the reach of frost, and so of their bills, and resort to the 
muddy or sandy sea-shore. In the Hebrides it is said that they do 
not migrate at all, but simply content themselves with shifting 
from the moors to the shore and back again, according to the weather. 
In the northern parts of France, on the other hand, they are only 
known as passengers on their way to the south. From making 
their appearance in the rainy season they are there called pluviers, 
whence our name Plover, which, however, is supposed by some 
to have been given to them for their indicating by their movements 
coming changes in the weather, in which respect indeed their skill 
is marvellous. 
The Golden Plover, sometimes called also Yellow Plover, and 
Green Plover, is found at various seasons in most countries of 
Europe; but the Golden Plovers of Asia and America are considered 
to be different species. 
THE GREY PLOVER 
SQUATAROLA HELVETICA 
Winter—forehead, throat, and under plumage, white, spotted on the neck 
and flanks with grey and brown; upper plumage dusky brown, mottled 
with white and ash colour; long axillary feathers black or dusky ; tail 
white, barred with brown and tipped with reddish; bill black; irides 
dusky; feet blackish grey. Swmmer—lore, neck, breast, belly, and 
flanks, black, bounded by white; upper plumage and tail black and 
Saag Length eleven and a half inches. Eggs olive, spotted with 
ack, 
Many of the Waders agree in wearing, during winter, plumage in 
a great measure of a different hue from that which characterizes 
them in summer ; and, as a general rule, the winter tint is lighter 
than that of summer. This change is, in fact, but an extension of 
the law which clothes several of the quadrupeds with a dusky or a 
snowy fur in accordance with the season. The Grey Plover, as 
seen in England, well deserves its name, for, as it frequents our 
shores in the winter alone, it is only known to us as a bird grey 
above and white below. But in summer the under plumage is 
decidedly black, and in this respect it bears a close resemblance to 
the Golden Plover, with which, in spite of the presence of a rudi- 
mentary fourth toe, it is closely allied. My friend, the Rev. W. S. 
Hore, informs me that he has seen them in Norfolk wearing the full 
black plumage in May. The occurrence of the bird, however, in 
this condition, in England, is exceptional; while in the northern 
regions, both of the Old and New World, it must be unusual to see 
an adult bird in any other than the sable plumage of summer. 
The Grey Plover is a bird of extensive geographical range, being 
known in Japan, India, New Guinea, the Cape of Good Hope, Egypt, 
