149 



GOLDEN PLOVEE. 



WHISTLING PLOVER. YELLOW PLOVER. GREEN PLOVEE. 



PLATE CL. 



Charadrius pluvialis, PE>'>*AXT. 



Charadrius Africanut, 



XIDIFICATION commences about the end of May, or beginning of June. 

 The hen bird alone sits. Incubation lasts seventeen days. 



The nest, which I have never seen 'in situ,' is a very inartificial 

 structure, being merely a few stems of grass and fibres laid together 

 in some small hollow of the ground, only just large enough to contain 

 them; what there is, is made the end of May, or beginning of June. 



The eggs, four in number usually, are of a yellowish stone-colour, 

 blotted and spotted with brownish black. They are placed quatrefoil 

 with the small ends pointed together inwards. 



The young 'quit the nest as soon as hatched, and follow their parents 

 till able to fly and support themselves, which is in the course of a 

 month or five weeks.' 



One variety is of a light reddish brown colour, handsomely marked 

 with large blots of dark brown. 



Another is of a yellowish ground, marked with large spots of a dark 

 brown, principally towards the thicker end. 



A third is of a light grey- coloured ground, with some large spots 

 of dark brown, as well as a few smaller nes. 



A fourth is of a grey colour, tinged with yellow, with a large blot 

 of brown at the thicker end, and some smaller ones principally at the 

 larger end. 



