GOLDEN PLOVER. 23 



who find an additional piquancy in those that are more wild. 

 He that can say 'My mind to me a kingdom is,' is in no 

 danger of being made melancholy by any sound in nature. 

 In the evening and at night, you may hear it. It has at 

 times a ventriloquistic power, and is very deceptive. A skilful 

 imitation of their cry will decoy them to you. In the spring 

 season a more varied note is used, during which the bird flies 

 at a great elevation, and continues soaring about for a con- 

 siderable time. Meyer likens the note to the words 'tluwee, 

 tluwee,' uttered at a high pitch, and considerably loud. 



Nidification commences about the end of May, or beginning 

 of June. The hen bird alone sits. Incubation lasts seventeen 

 days. 



The nest, which I have never seen 'in situ,' is a very 

 inartificial structure, being merely a few stems of grass and 

 fibres laid together in some small hollow of the ground, only 

 just large enough to contain them; what there is, is made 

 the end of May or beginning of June. 



The eggs, four in number usually, are of a yellowish stone- 

 colour, blotted and spotted with brownish black. They are 

 placed quatrefoil with the small ends pointed together 

 inwards. 



The young 'quit the nest as soon as hatched, and follow 

 their parents till able to fly and support themselves, which 

 is in the course of a month or five weeks.' 



Male; weight, between seven and eight ounces; length, from 

 ten and a half to eleven inches and a half; bill, black; iris, 

 dark brown, nearly black the space between it and the eye, 

 deep black over it white. On the forehead is a band of 

 nearly pure white in summer, which in winter is yellowish 

 white, streaked and spotted with pale brown and grey. Head 

 on the sides, greyish brown; on the crown, neck on the back, 

 and nape, greyish or brownish black, with purple reflections 

 of a paler shade, and large yellow angular spots on the whole 

 edge and tip of each feather. Chin, neck on the sides, throat, 

 and breast, deep velvet black, in the form of a list, in summer, 

 with a band of white varying to yellow, and marbled with 

 black and pale brown on the sides and below the wing, the 

 feathers at the corner of which are also white below; in 

 winter the chin and throat are whitish; the breast, dusky 

 greyish white, tinged with dull yellow, and spotted and streaked 

 with darker grey. Before and after the breeding-season the 

 black and white plumages intermix. A bird has been seen 



