THE GRAY PLOVER 287 



The gray plover, which with the turnstone is 

 one of our autumnal visitors, is, as I have stated, 

 similar in plumage to the golden plover. In size 

 it is larger by two or three inches, measuring 

 eleven and a half inches. Like the golden plover, 

 the under parts change to black in summer, the 

 upper parts being mottled and barred with black 

 and white, and the tail-coverts white, this colour- 

 ing, in like manner as is the case with the golden 

 plover, being replaced in winter by white on the 

 under parts, the yellow spots on the upper plumage 

 being represented by white. The two birds are 

 thus liable to be mistaken for each other. The 

 gray plover is, however, of stouter build than 

 the golden plover, and there is also in addition 

 one unfailing characteristic which serves to identify 

 it, viz., the possession of a short hind-toe. It is 

 more common in the Eastern counties than else- 

 where. I believe that I have also observed it in 

 the Isle of Anglesey. 



One more member of this family remains to be 

 noticed, also an autumnal visitor, the handsome, 

 active, busy little turnstone, otherwise known as 

 the tangle-picker. This bird also possesses a 

 hind-toe, though the peculiarity of its plumage is 

 sufficient to enable it to be readily distinguished. 

 The bill is short, pointed, powerful, and well 

 adapted for the purpose of enabling it to procure 

 its food, which consists for the most part of small 

 shellfish, the bird turning and tossing over the 

 stones and seaweeds in its search for them. In 



