PLOVERS 63 
helvetica (Linnzeus)}. Winter visitor to our coasts. Bird of 
passage. Occasional non-breeding birds in summer. 
Bird. Length 114 in. Not unlike the golden-plover in the 
general pattern of its plumage, but easily distinguished from 
it, in summer, by the black and white barred upper-parts, and 
at all seasons and ages by the black axillaries, conspicuous 
against the light under-surface of the wing, and by the white 
upper tail-coverts. In summer the under-parts and face are 
black banded marginally with white as in the case of the 
golden-plover. Short hind toe. Legs and beak black. After 
the autumn moult the under-parts are mostly white. Fore- 
breast ash-brown with dusky mottlings. The upper-parts are 
mostly ash-brown more or less marked with whitish and 
dusky. The young resembles somewhat that of the golden- 
plover, with the marked difference above noted. 
126. Lapwing, green-plover, peewit [Vanellus vanellus 
(Linneeus); Vanellus vulgaris Bechstein}. Resident and 
generally distributed. 
Bird. Length 12$ in. Recognised by the glossy green- 
black crest and crown, the coppery-green 
mantle glossed purple, the tail white on 
the basal part and sides, rest black ; the 
white under-parts with metallic-hued 
black on the throat and upper breast, 
and the conspicuous chestnut colour of 
the upper and under tail-coverts. In 
flight recognition is aided by the broad 
rounded wings, and by the under-surface 
of the same, which is black with white 
axillaries. After the autumn moult the 
throat is white. The male has the larger 
crest. 
Nest. On pasture, marsh, or moor. 
A scrape in the ground, lined with bents 
or other material. 
figgs. Usually 4. Pear-shaped. . Yellowish, or olive-brown 
to olive-green thickly spotted and blotched with black-brown. 
Greenish-blue varieties. Av. size, 1°83x1:31 in. Laying 
begins end of March to early April. One brood. 
(5) Family: Charadriide. (c) Subfamily: Hematopodine. 
127. Oyster-catcher, sea-pie [Hamatopus ostralegus ostralequs 
Linnezus], Winters on all our coasts. Breeds on coast 
and inland, but scarce in 8. and E. England. 
Bird. Length 164 in. Easily distinguished by the long 
