GOLDEN PLOVER 

 GOLDEN PLOVER. Charadrius pluvialis (Linnaeus). 



225 



Coloured Figures. Gould, ' Birds of Great Britain,' vol. iv, pis. 

 38, 39; Dresser. ' Birds of Europe,' vol. vii, pis. 515, 518, 

 519 ; Lilford, ' Coloured Figures,' vol. v, pi. 14. 



Notwithstanding the fact that the Golden Plover is in 

 great request for table-use, and that thousands find their 

 way into the city markets, yet the numbers are kept up by 

 the vast stream of migrants which reach our shores in 

 autumn and early winter. Many pairs remain to breed, but 

 this bird is much better known and more widely distributed 

 as a spring and autumn migrant. It frequents the uplands 

 of the interior as well as the slob-lands of our tidal estuaries. 

 I have seen hundreds resting in fields, miles from the sea. 

 In the month of August I have noticed a few adult birds 



FIG. 31. GOLDEN PLOVERS. 



on the coast, still showing some of the black markings of 

 the nuptial plumage. These are followed in September 

 by vast droves of immature birds, which, on their arrival, 

 are generally innocent of powder and shot, and so quite 

 tame. At this season I have watched them on the ooze- 

 fiats feeding with Dunlins and other shore-birds. The 

 Golden Plover runs in the same peculiar way as its con- 

 geners ; it is not so active on the ground nor so sprightly- 

 looking as the Kinged Plover. Numbers of immature birds, 

 especially those which arrive early in the autumn, appear 

 to sojourn but a few days, after 'which they move south- 

 ward ; I have repeatedly noticed the strand deserted during 

 the latter part of September and the beginning of October, 

 15 



