GRAY PLOVER. GOLDEN PLOVER. 173 



GENUS LXXXIV SQUATAROLA (PLOVER). 



SPECIES 165 THE GRAY PLOVER. 



Squatarola cinerea. Selby. 

 Pluvier cinere. Temm. 



Sea Plover. 



THE SEA PLOVER, the name by which this species is most 

 commonly known upon the coasts of the eastern portion of 

 the island, occurs only in very limited numbers around our 

 shores, and, from its habit of never passing inland, may ap- 

 pear of more rarity than it really is. 



Only observed during winter in any numbers upon the 

 coast, it is a species of the greatest rarity in the rich and beau- 

 tiful plumage which so much distinguishes the nuptial dress 

 of the plovers in the season of incubation ; in that state of 

 plumage but three specimens have been obtained in Ireland, 

 one of which, shot in July, 1849, at Clontarf, on the borders 

 of the Bay of Dublin, is in the author's collection. 



Of great wariness in admitting approach, the gray plover 

 is one of the most watchful of our shore-birds ; and, like the 

 curlew, takes wing upon the slightest alarm, startling every 

 bird within hearing with its loud shrill whistle. 



On rare occasions we may observe the gray plover in the 

 markets of the city, and generally disposed of at a price that 

 argues its inferiority with the golden plover as regards its 

 flesh. 



Habitat Northern Europe. 



SPECIES 166 THE GOLDEN PLOVER. 



Squatarola plumalis. Selby. 

 Pluvier dore. Temm. 



Yellow Plover. Green Plover. Black-breasted Plover. 

 THIS beautifully plumaged species, either in the rich bril- 

 liancy of the summer, or the more subdued tints of winter 

 plumage, is, with the exception of the lapwing, the most com- 

 mon and widely distributed of all our gratlatorial species. 

 Found in winter upon the sea-shore in flocks of considerable 

 magnitude, they form at all times a conspicuous contrast with 

 the immense flocks of curlews, dunlins, and knots, which oc- 

 cur so abundantly upon the sea-coast at that season. 



On the approach of spring the birds begin to attain 

 the beautiful glossy-black breast so remarkable in this and 

 the preceding species. The sea- shore is then deserted ; 



