GOLDEN PLOVER. 255 



Family CHARADRIID.-E. Genus CHARADRIUS. 



Sub-family CHARADKIIN^. 



GOLDEN PLOVER. 



CHARADRIUS PLUVIALIS, Linntzus. 

 Single Brooded. Laying season, May. 



BRITISH BREEDING AREA : Next to the Lapwing the 

 Golden Plover is the most widely distributed species of 

 the present sub-family breeding within our limits. It 

 breeds sparingly and locally in Devonshire and Somer- 

 set, in various parts of Wales, including the heights of 

 Breconshire, and thence to the moorlands of Derbyshire. 

 From this latter locality northwards along the Pennine 

 area, and throughout Scotland to the Orkneys and Shet- 

 lands, and westwards to the Hebrides, it becomes more 

 abundant, breeding commonly in all districts suited to 

 its requirements. In Ireland it is equally common and 

 widely dispersed, breeding on the moors and mountain 

 heaths. 



BREEDING HABITS : The Golden Plover is a resident 

 in our islands, but its numbers are increased during 

 winter, and our local birds wander from their upland 

 haunts to the littoral districts at that season. This 

 handsome Plover retires to its breeding-grounds in 

 March and April. These are situated on the upland 

 moors and mountain plateaux, thousands of feet above 

 sea-level in some localities, almost on it in others. The 

 bird cannot be said to nest in colonies, but many pairs 

 may be found breeding within a small area, and through- 

 out the summer it is to a great extent a social, even 

 gregarious species. This Plover appears to pair annually, 

 and generally after arrival at the breeding-grounds. 

 The nest is invariably on the ground, sometimes behind 



