240 THE GOLDEN PLOVER 



of approach than in spring. In the chalky plains of La Marne in 

 France they are very numerous ; and here, by the aid of a light 

 cart, fowlers in quest of them have little difficulty in shooting 

 large numbers, the birds being less afraid of the approach of a horse 

 than of a human being. But when obtained they are of little 

 value, as their flesh is barely eatable. 



The Thick-knee is migratory, visiting us in the beginning of 

 April to stay till October. His flights are made by night. 



THE CREAM-COLOURED COURSER 



CURSORIUS GALLICUS 



Plumage reddish cream colour ; wing-coverts bordered with ash-grey ; throat 

 whitish ; behind the eyes a double black bar ; lateral tail-feathers black 

 towards the tip, with a white spot in the centre of the black ; abdomen 

 whitish. Length nine inches. Eggs unknown. 



Though the specific name Europaeus would seem to imply that 

 this bird is of frequent occurrence in Europe, this is not the case. 

 Not more than three or four have been observed in Great Britain, 

 at various intervals, from 1785 to 1827 ; and on the Continent 

 it is an equally rare visitor to the plains of Provence and Languedoc. 

 It is a native of Syria, Egypt, and Abyssinia, frequenting pools 

 and other moist situations. It is singularly fearless of man, and 

 when disturbed prefers to run, which it does very swiftly, rather than 

 to take flight. Its winter residence is supposed to be the central 

 lakes of Africa, from which it returns to the countries named above 

 early in autumn, and disappears at the approach of winter. Nothing 

 is known of its nidification. About the autumn of 1868 one was 

 shot in Lanarkshire. 



THE GOLDEN PLOVER 



CHARADRIUS PLUVIALIS 



Winter — upper plumage dusky, spotted with yellow, cheeks, neck, and breast 

 mottled with ash-brown and buff ; throat and abdomen white ; quills 

 dusky, white along the shafts towards the end ; beak dusky, feet deep 

 ash-colour ; irides brown. Summer — upper plumage greyish black, 

 spotted with bright yellow ; forehead and space above the eyes white ; 

 sides of the neck white, mottled with black and yellow ; lore, throat, 

 neck, and lower parts deep black. Length nine inches. Eggs yellowish 

 green, blotched and spotted with black. 



The Golden Plover is a common bird in the south of England during 

 the winter months, and in the mountainous parts of Scotland and 

 the north of England during the rest of the year ; yet so different 

 are its habits and plumage at the extremes of these two seasons, 

 that the young naturalist who has had no opportunities of observing 

 them in their transition stage, and has had no access to trustworthy 



