166 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER. 



nouncing it to be of the same species with the subject of this 

 article. The bird figured in the British Zoology of Pennant, as 

 the Golden Plover, (Plate LXXII,) appears to be the young of 

 this species, in its winter dress; for it is represented with a hind 

 toe, which the true Golden Plover is never furnished with. 

 Hence we must conclude that those authors, who describe the 

 latter as having sometimes a hind toe, confound the young of 

 the two species, which in truth so nearly resemble each other 

 in their plumage that it requires a close observation to distinguish 

 them. But the young of the Black-bellied Plover, or present 

 species, may be known by their large head and stout bill; by 

 their hind toe; and by the long dusky or black feathers which 

 lie next to the sides, at the junction of the wings. 



In the Manuel d'Ornithologie of Temminck, unquestionably 

 the best work on the birds of Europe which has ever been pub- 

 lished, the changes which this species undergoes are clearly 

 detailed; and its synonymes are so well settled, that the future 

 ornithologist will find his labours much lightened, when the 

 subject of this article, in any stage of plumage, shall come before 

 him. In the excellent Supplement to Montagu's Ornithological 

 Dictionary we are also presented with some valuable references; 

 and the editor of this volume with pleasure acknowledges the 

 sources whence he has drawn that information which has enabled 

 him to determine the species. 





