Fig. 76. 



62 BRITISH BIRDS 



Bird. Length nearly 8 in. Recognised by the uniform 

 greyish-brown crown, back and wing-coverts, the white under- 

 parts broken by a broad black band passing across the upper 

 breast and upwards round the neck, the 

 orange legs and the curious black and 

 white markings of the head and neck 

 shown in the figure. Beak orange with 

 black tip. The fledgling lacks the black 

 band across the forehead, and has a 

 dusky beak. The rare Kentish-plover has 

 black beak and legs, and the black breast 

 band is reduced to two patches on either 

 side of the neck. It breeds coast of Kent 

 and Sussex. 



Nest. On the ground, usually on sand 

 or shingle beds near the sea, occasionally inland. The nest- 

 scrape may be unlined, or lined with broken shells, pebbles, 

 bents and other accessible material. 



Eggs. Normally 4. Pear-shaped, yellowish spotted brownish- 

 black. Av. size, 1*34 x '95 in. Laying begins April-May. 

 One, possibly two broods. 



124. Golden - plover [Gharadrius apricarius Linnaeus ; 

 Gharadrius pluvialis Linnaeus]. Resident and generally 

 distributed. Breeds on hilly districts of Scotland, Ireland, 

 Wales, and W. England. 



Bird. Length 11 in. Recognised by the black or dusky 

 upper-parts richly spotted with yellow, and by 

 the black face and under-parts, this black area 

 being broadly margined with an irregular band 

 of white that crosses the forehead, and passes 

 behind the eyes down each side of the neck and 

 breast to the white under tail-coverts. Under 

 surface of the wing white including the axillaries. 

 No hind toe. Black beak and legs. After 

 the autumn moult the under-parts are white, 

 tinged on the fore-neck with yellow mottled 

 dusky. The fledglings have the under-parts 

 white with dusky brown bars on the flanks. 



Nest. On moorland or rough pasture. A 

 scrape in the ground, usually among heather or 

 tufts of coarse herbage. Unlined or scantily lined with bits 

 of heather, dry grass and other material. 



Eggs. Usually 4. Pear-shaped. Shades of yellow spotted and 



blotched brown-black. Rarely greenish-white ground. Av. size, 



2-02 x 1*35 in. Laying begins April. One brood, possibly more. 



125. Grey-plover [Squatarolasquatarola(Limisdus)' y Sqiiatarola 



Fig. 77. 



