GOLDEN PLOVER. 157 



GOLDEN PLOVER. 



WHISTLING PLOVER. YELLOW PLOVER. GREEN PLOVER. 



PLATE CL. 



Charadrius pluvialis, PENNANT. MONTAGU. 



Charadrius Africanus, LINNAEUS. 



HVTIDIFICATION commences about the end of May, 

 -L> 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 yel- 

 lowish 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. 



