38 BIRD GALLKltY. 



No. lOO. HOOPOE. (Upupa epops.) 



This handsome bird, common in many parts of Europe, Asia, and 

 North Africa, is a spring visitor to the southern and eastern parts of 

 England, where, if unmolested, it would breed regularly. It is, how- 

 ever, subjected to so much persecution on its arrival, that very few 

 pairs survive and are allowed to rear their young in peace. The slight 

 nest is placed in a hole in some decayed tree, frequently a willow or 

 ash, and from four to seven pale yellowish eggs are laid on the decaying 

 mould. The group exhibited is remarkable for the great disparity in 

 the size of the young birds, and for the unusually clean condition of 

 the nest. 



Poklisa, Hungary, June. 



Presented by C. G. Danford, Esq. 



No. lOl. DUNLIN. (Pelidna alpina.) 

 Throughout the year this Sandpiper is common on the shores and 

 tidal rivers of the British Islands, and may be met with in large flocks 

 on the mud-flats and sand-banks uncovered by the tide. In summer 

 most of the adult birds move inland to the more extensive moorlands 

 and marshy districts to breed, and are then fairly plentiful in Scotland 

 ;md the northern counties of England, but rare in the south, and local 

 in Wales and Ireland. The nest, a mere depression in the turf, slightly 

 lined with dead grass, is situated among short heather or in a tussock 

 of coarse grass. The four eggs are usually of a pale green colour 

 blotched and spotted with grey and reddish-brown. 



Cumberland, June. 

 Presented by the Rev. H. A. Macpherson. 



No. 102. GOLDEN PLOVER. (Charadrius pluvialis.) 



Though numbers of these birds are resident in the British Islands 

 throughout the year, the species is most plentiful during the periods of 

 migration and in winter, when vast flocks frequent the pastures and 

 coasts, in- search of the insects, worms, molluscs, etc., on which they 

 feed. In March the birds, which breed in our islands, retire to the 

 moors and prepare a slight hollow in the ground, usually among heather 

 or short grass, for their eggs. These are always four in number, and 

 are yellowish-buff, handsomely blotched and spotted with purplish- 

 brown and brownish-black. 



After the autumn moult the black underparts are replaced by white. 



Yorkshire, May. 

 Presented by Lord Walsin.gham, F.R.S. 



