GOLDEN PLOVER, 387 



the finest male. Tlie plumage, during this assumption of 

 colours or tints peculiar to the breeding-season, is called by 

 French nuturalists Plumage des JVoces ; by some English 

 authors it has been styled the nuptial dress, and I once heard 

 a poulterer call them the bird''s wedding feathers. The 

 French term Pliivier is said to have been applied to the 

 Plover, '■'■ pour ce quon le prend mi'eux en temps piuvieux 

 qu''un nuUe autre saison. Our word Plover is derived from 

 the French Pluvier. 



The Golden Plover is found during summer breeding on 

 the high hills and swampy grounds of the North of England 

 and Scotland. Mr. Thompson, of Belfast, saj^s it is common 

 in Ireland, breeding in the least-frequented bogs throughout 

 that countrv. It visits the Cheviot Hills, and other hiffh 

 ground of the border counties in the North of England 

 every year. Mr. Don says it breeds on the hills of Forfar- 

 shire, as noticed in his account of the native plants and ani- 

 mals of that county, appended to Lightfoot's Flora Scotica, 

 ■which was published at the expense of Pennant. Mr. Selby 

 says of this bird in Sutherlandshire, that "it is plentiful 

 throughout the county, but particularly abundant in the 

 district between Lairg and Tongue, the parish of Durness, 

 Scourie, Sec. Sutherland appears to be one great breeding- 

 station of this species." In the Hebrides, Mr. Macgillivray 

 observes, " I have often gone out to shoot them at night by 

 moonlight, when they seemed as actively engaged as by day, 

 which was also the case with the Snipes ; but I seldom suc- 

 ceeded in my object, it being extremely difficult to esti- 

 mate distances at night. The numbers that frequent the 

 sandy pastures and shores of the outer Hebrides is astonish- 

 ing. Dr. Neill, Mr. Salmon, and Mr. Dunn, have recorded 

 it as common in the Orkney and Shetland Islands. 



Professor Nilsson and Mr. Lloyd mention the Golden 

 Plover as annually visiting Sweden ; Mr. Hewitson saw it in 



2 c 2 



