BIRDS OF GUERNSEY. 121 



but only marks it as occurring in Guernsey. There 

 is no specimen in the Museum at present. 



103. GREY PLOVER. Squatarola helvetica, Lin- 

 nseus. French, "Vanneau pluvier." The Grey 

 Plover is a regular but by no means numerous 

 visitant to the coast of all the Islands during the 

 winter months, but I have never found it in flocks 

 like the Golden Plover. A few fall victims to the 

 numerous gunners who frequent the shores during 

 the autumn and winter, and consequently it occa- 

 sionally makes its appearance in the market, 

 where I believe it often passes for a Golden Plover, 

 especially in the case of young birds on their first 

 arrival in November ; but for the sake of the un- 

 knowing in such matters, I may say that they 

 need never be deceived, as the Grey Plover has a 

 hind toe, and also has the axillary plume or the 

 longish feathers under the wing black, while the 

 Golden Plover has no hind toe and the axillary 

 plume white : a little attention to these distinctions, 

 which hold good at all ages and in all plumages, 

 may occasionally save a certain amount of disap- 

 pointment at dinner time, as the Grey Plover is 

 apt to taste muddy and fishy, and is by no means 

 so good as the Golden Plover. 



It is included in Professor Ansted's list, but only 

 marked as occurring in Guernsey. There are two 

 specimens in the Museum, both in winter plumage. 



