SPECIES 5. CHARADRIUS PLUVIALIS. 

 GOLDEN PLOVER. 

 [Plate LIX. Fig. 5.] 



Arct. Zool p. 493, JVo. 399. -BEWICK, i, 322. Le Pluvier durt, 

 BUFF, vm, 81. PL Enl 904. PE ALE'S Museum, No. 4198.* 



THIS beautiful species visits the seacoast of New York and 

 New Jersey in spring and autumn; but does not, as far as I can 

 discover, breed in any part of the United States. They are most 

 frequently met with in the months of September and October; 

 soon after which they disappear. The young birds of the great 

 Black-bellied Plover are sometimes mistaken for this species. 

 Hence the reason why Mr. Pennant remarks his having seen 

 a variety of the Golden Plover, with black breasts, which he 

 supposed to be the young, t 



The Golden Plover is common in the northern parts of Eu- 

 rope. It breeds on high and heathy mountains. The female lays 

 four eggs, of a pale olive colour, variegated with blackish spots. 

 They usually fly in small flocks, and have a shrill whistling 

 note. They are very frequent in Siberia, where they likewise 

 breed; extend also to Kamtschatka, and as far south as the Sand- 

 wich isles. In this latter place, Mr. Pennant remarks, "they 

 are very small. " 



Although these birds are occasionally found along our sea- 



* We add the following synonymes from Prince Musignano's " Observa- 

 tions:" Charadnus pluvialis, LINN. GMEL. LATH, winter dress. TEMM. 

 VIKILL. Charadrius aprtcorJus, LINN. GMEL. LATH, summer dress, (not 

 of Wilson, which is a four-toed bird, Vanellus helveticus.) Pluvialis aurea, 

 BRISS. winter dress. Pluvialis aurea minor. BRISS. winter dress. Pluvialis 

 dominicensis aurea, BHISS. winter dress. Pluvialis aurea Freti Hudsonis, 

 summer dress. Le Pluvier d'ore, BUFF. PL Enl. 904-, winter dress. 



t Arct. Zool. p. 484. 



