384 CHARADRID^E. 



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 DOTTEREL. 



CHARADRIUS MORINELLUS. 



Winter Head dusky ash ; over each eye a reddish white band, meeting at the 

 nape ; face whitish, dotted with black ; back dusky ash, tinged with green, 

 the feathers edged with rust-red ; breast and flanks reddish ash ; gorget white ; 

 beak black; irides brown; feet greenish ash. Summer Face, and a band 

 over the eyes white ; head dusky ; nape and sides of the neck ash ; feathers 

 of the back, wing-coverts, and wing-feathers, edged with deep red ; gorget 

 white, bordered above by a narrow black line ; lower part of the breast and 

 flanks bright rust-red ; middle of the belly black ; abdomen reddish white. 

 Young birds have a reddish tinge on the head, and the tail is tipped with red. 

 Length nine inches and a half. Eggs yellowish olive, blotched and spotted 

 with dusky brown. 



THE Dotterel, Little Dotard, or Morinellus, "little fool," 

 received both the one and the other of its names from its 

 alleged stupidity. " It is a silly bird," says Willughby, 

 writing in 1676 ; "but as an article of food a great deli- 

 cacy. It is caught in the night by lamp-light, in accord- 

 ance with the movements of the fowler. For if he stretch 

 out his arm, the bird extends a wing ; if he a leg, the 

 bird does the same. In short, whatever the fowler does, 

 the Dotterel does the same. And so intent is it on the 

 movements of its pursuer, that it is unawares entangled in 



