Birds of Britain 



The sexes are alike in plumage. The whole of the upper 

 parts are dark brown, with two or more yellow spots 

 on the margins of each feather. The throat and breast 

 are black, bordered by a clear-cut white line. Bill and legs 

 black. In winter the black on the throat and chest is 

 replaced by white, with pale brownish mottlings across the 

 latter. Length 11 in.; wing 7'5 in. 



The young resemble their parents in winter but the 

 yellow is brighter, and there are traces of yellow across the 

 breast. It is generally distributed throughout these islands, 

 breeding commonly on the moorlands, and becoming much 

 more numerous in Scotland. 



THE LESSER GOLDEN PLOVER 



Charadrius dominicus, P. L. S. Miiller 



This species is subdivided into two forms, one of which 

 is found in Eastern Asia, while the other is an inhabitant 

 of North America. 



Examples of both these forms have been shot in the 

 United Kingdom, although the American form, as might be 

 expected, has occurred the more frequently of the two. 



Both these forms may be distinguished from our common 

 species, which they closely resemble, in having the axillaries 

 smoke grey instead of white. Length about 9 in. ; wing 

 6-75 in. 



304 



