78 OUR RESIDENT BIRDS 



Site. On or very near the ground at the base of furze- 

 bush, well concealed by growing herbage. 



Materials. Dry grass, rootlets, and moss, loosely 

 compacted, lined with finer grass, hair, feathers, and 

 sometimes a little wool. 



Eggs. Four to six. Pale greenish blue ; speckled, 

 chiefly at large end, with reddish brown. 



GOLDEN PLOVER (Charadrius pluvialis). 



Breeds sparingly in Wales, Devonshire and Somerset- 

 shire, and, more abundantly, in the North of England, 

 Scotland, and Ireland. 



Haunts. Moorland districts. 



Plumage. Forehead and stripe over eyes white, 

 continued down sides of neck to flanks. Lores and 

 cheeks black. Upper parts prettily mottled with black, 

 golden, and creamy white ; under parts black ; axillaries 

 white, conspicuous in flight. Bill, legs, and feet black. 

 Length n in. Female similar, but black areas more 

 sooty. In winter, adults lose the black on under parts, 

 which then become whitish, spotted with yellowish brown. 

 Young : upper parts more spotted, and with browner 

 golden ; under parts grey. Nestling : upper parts 

 mottled with black, grey, and golden down ; under parts 

 greyish white. 



Language. A melodious double whistle like " lou-ee, 

 lou-ee," especially noisy in wet weather. In the love 

 season it utters a trilling whistle like " tirr-pee- 

 you." 



Habits. In winter and when on migration this species 

 is gregarious. Largely a night feeder. It runs well, 

 like all true Plovers. Flight rapid, and when in flocks 

 they wheel about in the air in graceful, regular and won- 

 derful evolutions. 



Food. Insects, worms, slugs, Crustacea, &c. 



