GRALLATORES. 



Charadrius* the Plover. 



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LAPWING (Charadrius Vanellus). 



The Plovers can scarcely be distinguished from 

 the Sandpipers, except by being entirely destitute 

 of the back toe, which even in the latter is often 

 very small and scarcely available. Their food is 

 nearly the same, but to obtain it the Plovers chiefly 

 resort to more inland situations, some haunting- 

 stony downs and dry barren plains, and others the 

 meadows and marshes. They too are dispersed over 

 the world, and are in general chastely and elegantly 

 spotted with sober colours. The Golden Plover 

 (C. Pluvialis) is an European example ; and the 



* The Greek name of a bird that ran in ditches. 



