THE GOLDEN PLOYEE. 



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 eleven 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 trust- 

 worthy books, might be forgiven for setting down the two 

 forms of the bird as distinct species. 



In the hilly districts of the north of Europe, Golden 

 Plovers are numerous, sometimes being, with Ptarmigans, 

 the only birds which relieve the solitude of the desolate 



