The Golden Plover 

 (Charadrius Pluvialus). 



GENERIC markings. In winter : Upper plumage 

 dusky, spotted with yellow, cheeks, neck and 

 breast mottled with ash-brown and buff; throat 

 and abdomen white; quills dusky, white along the shafts 

 towards the end ; beak dusky, feet deep ash-colour ; irides 

 brown. Summer : Upper plumage greyish-black, spotted 

 with bright yellow; forehead and space above the eyes, 

 white; sides of the neck white, mottled with black and 

 yellow; lore, throat, neck, and lower parts, deep black. 

 Length, nine inches. Eggs, yellowish-green, blotched, 

 and spotted with black. 



The Golden Plover is a common bird in the south of 

 England during the winter months, and it is also liberally 

 distributed in the Midlands and in the North, especially 

 on the coastings; also in the mountainous parts of Scot- 

 land. Many of this species are found on the Northum- 

 brian coast from early October right away to the beginning 

 of March, and the flesh of this bird is highly prized by 

 sportsmen. 



Its habits and plumage are so different at the extremes 

 of winter and summer that the young naturalist who has 

 had no opportunities of observing them in their transition 

 stage, and has had no access to trustworthy books or notes 

 might be forgiven for setting down the two forms of the 

 bird as distinct species. 



In the hilly districts of the north of Europe, golden 

 plovers are numerous, sometimes being, with ptarmigans, 

 the only birds which relieve the solitude of the desolate 



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