THE BIRD-LIFE OF LONDON 



herbage and leaves. The eggs, laid in May, are four in 

 number, pyriform in shape, and buff in ground colour, 

 handsomely blotched and spotted with blackish brown, 

 purplish brown, and grey. A return to the lowlands 

 commences as soon as the young are strong on the wing. 



In winter plumage, the dress in which the Golden 

 Plover generally appears in the London area, the upper 

 parts are black spotted with yellow, and the under parts 

 are white, marked on the breast and flanks with dusky 

 brown. In summer the under parts are black. Bill 

 black ; tarsi and toes brownish black ; irides brown. 

 Length 10 inches. The female closely resembles the male 

 in general colour, but is more marked with dusky brown 

 on the under parts in winter, and the black of the under 

 parts is mixed with white in summer. The young in 

 first plumage closely resemble the parents in winter dress. 



I may here mention that the GREY PLOVER (Squatarola 

 helvetica) has been obtained at Forest Gate in 1871. It 

 may always be distinguished from the preceding bird, 

 which it resembles somewhat, especially in 'size, by its 

 minute hind toe, which is lacking in the Golden Plover 

 and its allies. 



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