18 



MUSEUM OF ANIMATED NATURE. 



[Plovers. 



nocturnal. The number of eggt laid by the Temalea 

 if generally four, sometime* two. Most are subject 

 to a kpring and autumn moult, and the Mimmer 

 livery Jitfer* from that of winter. 



1831, 1832.— Tub Common Thick-k:»kk 



((Edicnemus crepitant). Le grand Pluvier ou 

 Courii* de Terre of the French ; Gran Pivieri, Cur- 

 lolte, Ciurlul, and Ciurlovl of the Italianii ; Grower 

 Brachvopel of the Germans ; y glin-Biaff of the 

 VVel»h; Tliick-kneed Bustard, Stone-Curlew, and 

 Norfolk Plover of Enc'is-h writer*.. 



Wide downs and commons, uplands, and sheep- 

 walk* are the favourite resorts of this bird, where it 

 makes its appearance in March or April, in small 

 flocks, which are very shy, flying round in wide 

 circles if disturbed from their repose. They run 

 along very nimbly, with the head poked forwards; 

 and squat amongst loose stones and the irregularities 

 of broken ground, where the colour of the objects 

 •bout favours their concealment. In Hampshire, 

 Norfolk, Suff"olk, Sussex, &c., this bird is tolerably 

 common. In Germany, as in England, it is migra- 

 tory. It is found in Southern Europe, generally in 

 India, North Africa, Egypt, the Greek Archipelago, 

 and Turkey. 



Though the Thick-knee is wary and watchful by 

 day, and readily takes alarm, this is in reality its 

 resting time, and it is at night that it rouses up in 

 pursuit of food. As the dusk of evening appi caches, 

 it begins to utter its loud piping note, and trips over 

 the dewy grass, picking up worms, insects and 

 young frogs, which form its cnief diet. The Thick- 

 knee, like the bustard, makes no nest, but deposits 

 its eggs, two in number, on the bare earth, in lallow 

 land or spots of ground where flint stones are 

 scattered about, spotting as it were the earth, and 

 favouring the concealment of the female and her 

 progeny, whose plumage assimilates with the 

 chequered and mottled appearance of the surface 

 which she has selected. The eggs are of a light 

 yellowish brown, with darker streaks and blotches. 

 The young af\er exclusion immediately follow their 

 parents, and are then covered with a mottled grey 

 down, which gradually gives place to the proper 

 plumage, and in six weeks or two months they are 

 capable of flying and of providing for themselves. 



In the autumn, after the breeding season, the 

 flocks which had scattered themselves in pairs over 

 the downs, and the young they have reared, assemble 

 all together, forming larger or smaller flocks, and 

 prepare to take their departure, quitting our latitudes 

 for a more congenial climate ; and in October few, 

 if any, are to be seen in the localities previously 

 tenanted, and where at night their loud call had 

 resounded " familiar to the shepherd's ear." 



The general plumage of this bird is of a reddish 

 ash above, each feather having a central streak of 

 umber brown ; neck and chest yellowish white, 

 streaked with umber brown : throat and under parts 

 white ; quills black ; base of the bill bright yellow- 

 ish ; naked skin round the eyes; iris and legs fine 

 yellow. Length sixteen inches. 



In the genus (Edicnemus the bill is strong and 

 nearly straight ; the nostrils longitudinal, and pierced 

 through and through the horny part of the middle 

 of the upp«r mandible ; the tarsi long, and thick at 

 the joints : the toes are three, all before, and united 

 as far as the second joint by a membrane which 

 skirts their edges ; wings rather ample. Mr. Gould 

 considers that this genus connects the plovers to the 

 bustards. Five or six species are known. Fig. 1833 

 represents the Head and Foot. 



1834, 1835.— The Golden Plover 



{Charadrius pluvialis). In the genus Charadrius 

 the bill is slender, straight, compressed, and shorter 

 than the head ; the nasal furrow is prolonged, and 

 the mandibles are enlarged towards the tip. Toes 

 three, all directed forwards, and the external united 

 to the middle by a short membrane. Eyes large, 

 nocturnal. 



Fig. 1836 represents the Head and Foot of Chara- 

 drius. 



The Golden Plover (Pluvier dorft of the French) 

 is a bird of passage, spread over Europe, Western 

 Asia, and portions of North Africa. In North Ame- 

 rica its place is supplied by an allied species (Ch. 

 Virginiacus, Borkli), and by the C. marmoratus in 

 the eastern parts of Asia. 



Though the golden plover breeds in the British 

 Isles, it is only to be found in the southern districts 

 during the winter, at which seai>on the numbers of our 

 native birds are increased by arrivals from more 

 northern latitudes — all, be it observed, clad in their 

 ; wintry livery, which difi'ers remarkably from that of 

 the summer. 



Heathy swampy moors and wild hilly districts are 

 ( the haunts of this species, where it breeds ; its nest 

 consists of a few fibres and stems of grass, placed in 

 some depression of the ground amidst the heath. 

 The eggs, four in number, are of a cream yellow, 

 with a tinge of green, blotched and streaked with 



nmber brown. The young, when first excluded from 

 the egg, are covered with a beautiful parti-coloured 

 down of bright kings yellow and brown. They are 

 very active, and follow the parents, who sedulously 

 attend them, and not only display great anxiety in 

 their protection, but put in practice the most inge- 

 nious artifices in order to draw oft' man or dog from 

 the spot where they lie crouched ; they will flutter 

 along as if lame and unable to take wing, a few 

 feet before the intruder, and, attracting his attention, 

 give him as it were hopes of soon being able to 

 effect a capture, till having effected its object, up it 

 mounts, leaving him to gaze "in silent wonder 

 lost." In the same manner they protect their eggs, 

 the female always running to a considerable dis- 

 tance from the nest, and even meeting the intru- 

 der, long before he would approach the spot, 

 before employing her parental stratagems. The 

 young are able to fly in a month or five weeks, 

 and joining other broods, with their parents form' 

 large flocks, which quit .the hilly districts of the 

 north, and make their way to the open downs bor- 

 dering our southern coasts. About the beginning of 

 April the flocks return northwards, gradually break- 

 ing up, and at last resolving into paii-s, which soon 

 fix upon a breeding-spot. The cry of the plover isa 

 plaintive monotonous whistle, more varied in the 

 breeding season, by the imitation of which the bird 

 may be enticed within a short distance. The flight 

 of this species is rapid and vigorous, and during the 

 spring and summer generally at a great elevation ; 

 while it sails round and round performing most 

 graceful evolutions. Night is the feeding-time. 

 When reposing during the day, the plover rests 

 either crouched on the ground or standing on one 

 leg with the head drawn down between the shoul- 

 ders. Insects and their larvae, slugs, worms, &c., 

 constitute their diet, for which they frequent fallow 

 lands in the autumn, becoming very fat, and are 

 highly esteemed as one of the luxuries of the table. 

 In the southern countries of Europe this species 

 winters in countless multitudes. In autumn and 

 winter the Loncfon markets are abundantly supplied 

 with golden plovers. 



The summer plumage of this species, assumed in 

 spring, is of a deep black above, each feather having 

 triangular marginal spots of golden yellow ; fore- 

 head and space above the eyes pure white, as 

 are also the sides of the neck and chest, but spoiled 

 with black and yellow ; throat, front pf the neck, 

 and under parts deep black. As winter comes on 

 the black of the neck and under parts is lost ; the 

 upper surface is sooty black, largely vaned with fine 

 golden yellow ; the sides of the head, neck, and 

 chest are varied with ashy brown and yellowish 

 spots ; throat and under parts while. Length ten 

 inches and a half. Fig. 1834, Summer dress ; Fig. 

 1835, Winter dress. 



1837. — The Dotterel 



(Charadrius Morinellus). Le Pluvier guignard of 

 the French ; dcr Dumme Regcmpfeifer of the Ger- 

 mans ; Piviere toitolino of the Italians. 



Though the Dotterel certainly breeds on the 

 Grampians, on Skiddaw, and other mountains in the 

 northern portion of our island, yet it must be consi- 

 dered rather in the light of a visitor to our shores 

 than a permanent resident ; its great breeding-places 

 are the high latitudes of Russia, Lapland, and 

 Northern Asia. It breeds also on the bare plateaux 

 of the Norwegian mountains, and in Bohemia and 

 Silesia, at an elevation of four thousand eight hun- 

 dred feet. 



The eggs are light olive brown, blotched and 

 spotted with black. 



In the autumn vast flocks of the dotterel on their 

 way from the north to the warmer regions of southern 

 Europe visit our island, and a similar visit is paid in 

 spring by the flocks on their return from the south 

 to their northern breeding-places. 



With respect to its general habits, the dotterel 

 closely agrees with the golden plover; it has been 

 accused, indeed, of excessive stupidity — but for no 

 other reason than because, fresh from the wilds un- 

 trodden by man, it has not experienced persecution. 

 Its flesh in the autumn is excellent. It undergoes a 

 chfHige of plumage analogous to that of the golden 

 plover. 



1838, 1839.— The Grey Plover 



(Squalarola cinered). In the genus Squatarola we 

 see the rudiment of a hind-toe ; the tarsi are reticu- 

 lated. Nasal groove wide. Fig. 1840 represents 

 the Head and Foot of Squatarola. 



The grey plover istheVanneau vari6, Vanneau 

 gris, and vanneau Pluvier of the French. 



The plumage of this species undergoes a similar 

 change to that of the golden plover, and indeed so 

 much do the two birds resemble each olher, that 

 were it not for the presence of a minute hinil-loe in 

 the grey plover, and for the long black leatheis 

 which are found underneath the wings near the 

 body, one might be easily mistaken fur the olher. 



The grey plover is spread over all the temperate 

 countries of Europe, and Asia during the winter, re- 

 tiiiug in summer to the regions of the arctic circle 

 to breed. It has been observed in Japan. It isalso 

 common in North America, breeding in the far 

 countries of the north. According to Dr. Richard- 

 son it is the Toolee-areeo or Tooglie-aiah of the 

 Esquimaux. Captain J. Ross found il breeding near 

 the borders of the marshes in considerable numbers, 

 immediately to the south-west of Fury Point. This 

 species viMts our island, but not in great numbers, 

 during its southward migration in autumn, and upon 

 its return northwards in spring, and a few small 

 flocks sometimes remain with us during the winter, 

 frequenting oozy bays and the mouths of rivers along 

 the coast. Worms, insects, small shell-fish, and 

 Crustacea, with various berries in summer, consti- 

 tute its food. The flight is powerful and circling; 

 it also runs with great celerity; its cry is similar to 

 but not quite so shrill as that of the golden plover. 

 The flesh is excellent, and in high esteem. It is the 

 Tringa Helveticaof Linnaeus; Squatarola Helvetica 

 of Gould ; and the Charadrius Africarius of Wilson. 

 The young is the Tringa varia of Linnaeus. A second 

 species, Squatarola cincta, was brought by Captain 

 P. P. King, R. N., from the Straits of Magellan. 



1841.— The Lapwing 



( Vanellus cristatus). Le Vanneau of the French ; 

 Paoncellaof the Italians; Gehaiibte Kieboz of the 

 Germans; De Kievet of the Netherlanders ; Wype, 

 Peesweep, and Peewit, Provincial English ; Corn- 

 chwigel of the Welsh. Fig. 1842 represents the 

 Head and Foot. 



In the genus Vanellus the hind-toe is more de- 

 veloped than in Squatarola, and the head is orna- 

 mented either with a crest, or with fleshy wattles 

 and protuberances about the base of the beak, as in 

 many foreign species; many also have the carpal 

 joint of the wing armed with a sharp spur, often of 

 considerable length. "These birds," says Selby, 

 " are the inhabitants of open grounds and plains, 

 particularly where the soil is of a moist nature, 

 leeding on worms, insects, larvae, &c. They are 

 subject to the double moult. But their vernal change 

 of plumage is not attended with any remarkalue 

 difference of colour." Ttie wings are ample. 



The geographical distribution of the lapwing is 

 very extensive ; it is spread over the whole of 

 Europe and a great part of Asia ; it occurs in collec- 

 tions from India, North Africa, and Japan. In our 

 island it is abundant wherever moorland tracts in- 

 vite its abode. Here it breeds, depositing four eggs 

 in a loose nest made with a few straws or stalks of 

 grass, in a slight depression of the ground. The 

 eggs are of a fine olive green blotched and marked 

 with brownish black. Great numbers of these, known 

 as " plovers" eggs," are annually brought into the 

 London market, and, being accounted delicacies, sell 

 at a good price. They are collected in Norfolk, 

 Lincolnshire and Cambridgeshire. When the fe- 

 male is driven from her eggs, she runs for a consi- 

 derable distance, and then flies low near the ground, 

 uttering not a single cry : in the mean time the male 

 flies round the intruder and clamorously reiterating 

 the syllables pee-tt-eef, endeavours by various arts to 

 draw off his attention from the female, and the spot 

 where the nest is placed. When first hatched the 

 young are covered with a parti-coloured down of 

 yellow and brown, and follow their parents, who not 

 only defend them with courage against birds of prey, 

 but employ every stratagem to divert men or dogs 

 from their retreat, feigning lameness, and fluttering 

 and tumbling in the path before them. When the 

 autumn commences, the lapwings assemble in vast 

 flocks, composed of old birds and the young of the 

 year; and as the cold sets in, gradually withdraw 

 from the inland moorlands, visiting the districts 

 near the sea and the mouths of rivers; frequenting 

 fallow-lands, turnip-fields, and low oozy grounds, 

 where, in the more southern parts of our island, they 

 appear to remain all the year, unless the mid-winter 

 be a season of more than usual severity, when they 

 pass still more southward. In February or the be- 

 ginning of March these birds revisit the moorlands, 

 and scatter abroad in pairs. At this season their 

 flight IS very singular: they perform a variety of 

 fantastic evolutions (more especially the males), 

 sometimes darting upwards, then suddenly sweeping 

 downward.s, and describing an abrupt and mazy 

 couree with many turnings; during this flight of ex- 

 ultation they incessantly utter a variety of notes very 

 different Iromtheirmonotonousmelancholy pee-weet, 

 wliile the loud whizzing of their long pinions is dis- 

 tictly audible. 



In the autumn the flesh of the peewit (or wype, as 

 it is called inlhe'Norlhumberland Household-Book') 

 is excellent, but, as might be expected, it is dry in 

 the summer. Mr. Selby considers it to be the bird 

 called Egret (from its ciest or aigrette), of which 

 one thousand were seived up at ttie famous feast of 

 Archbishop Nevil. Slugs, worms, and insects, con- 

 stitute the diet of this bird, for the destruction of 



