THE BIRDS OF HELIGOLAND 465 



265. Golden Plover [GOLDRKGENPFEIFEE]. 

 CHARADRIUS AURATUS, Suckow.i 



Heligolandish : Welster for early and winter plumage ; Welsler-boll 

 for breeding plumage. 



Charadrius auratus. Nauuiann, vii. 138. 



Golden Plover. Dresser, vii. 435. 



Pluvier dore 1 . Temminck, Manuel, ii. 535, iv. 352. 



The European bird bearing this name is amongst the best- 

 known in Heligoland. During most months of the year it is 

 either seen here by day, or its clear, far-sounding call is heard 

 during the night. The first young birds arrive as early as July, 

 sooner or later in that month, according to the state of the weather. 

 In 1880, as many as twenty individuals were seen as early as the 4th 

 of the month. In 1881, scattered examples were seen on the 18th 

 and 19th ; and, in 1883, the first bird was shot on the 16th. Early 

 individuals like these are nearly always marked with very large 

 yellow spots, and the feathers of the back of the head frequently 

 have small appendages of the nestling-down adhering to them. 

 The main migration of these young birds takes place during 

 August and September, in the course of which months, espe- 

 cially if the weather be fine and sunny, they are shot daily in 

 greater or less numbers, and served up in the restaurants under 

 the name of ' Goldfowls.' If a heavy rainfall, with a light east wind 

 should occur at that time, immense flights of these young birds, 

 mixed with Oyster Catchers and young Knots, may be seen flying 

 low over the sea, coming from an easterly direction, and alighting on 

 the dune. The old birds begin to arrive about the end of October. 

 They are easily recognised, both by their thin tarsal-joint, as well as 

 by the smaller, less pure yellow marginal spots of the plumage of 

 the upper parts, the smaller number of spots on the sides of the 

 breast, and the much whiter coloration of their lower parts. The 

 autumn migration of these old birds terminates at the end of 

 November ; as soon, however, as frosty weather sets in, large flocks- 

 and smaller companies of the birds again migrate over and past the 

 island, amid much noise, in a westerly direction. These flights take 

 place during the first few nights of the frosty weather, or, more 

 particularly, on the night which precedes its arrival ; and, besides. 

 Golden Plovers, they include innumerable Curlews, Oyster Catchers, 

 Lapwings, species of Tringa, accompanied by Larks and Blackbirds, 

 and probably also Fieldfares. All of these migrants are old and 



1 Charadrius pluvialis (Linn. ). 

 2G 



