GOLDEN PLOVER. 237 



half covered with a prominent membrane ; whole upper parts 

 * black, thickly marked with roundish spots of various tints of 

 golden yellow ; wing coverts and hind part of the neck pale- 

 brown, the latter streaked with yellow; front, broad line over 

 the eye, chin, and sides of the same, yellowish-white, streaked 

 with small pointed spots of brown olive; breast gray, with olive 

 and white; sides under the wings marked thinly with transverse 

 bars of pale olive; belly and vent white; wing-quills black, the 

 middle of the shafts marked with white; greater coverts black, 

 tipped with white ; tail rounded, black, barred with triangular 

 spots of golden yellow; legs dark dusky slate; feet three-toed, 

 with generally the slight rudirtieuts of a heel ; the outer toe con- 

 nected, as far as the first joint, Avith the middle one. The male 

 and female differ verj^ little in color." 



There are several other varieties of Plover known to our Gun- 

 ners ; the flesh of the most of them is equally good, and when 

 in season is highly prized by the Epicure. These two above 

 described, however, are the largest and most distinguished of 

 the species; the others are known as the Ring Plover, Piping 

 Plover, Kildeer Plover, Wilson's Plover, Grass or Field Plover, 

 &c, &c. 



The last-named variety, Tringa Bartramian, is not a coast or 

 marsh Bird. They are found most commonly on the inland 

 meadows and old upland fields, where they feed on grasshoppers, 

 beetles, and the various insects that inhabit such situations. 

 They are very much esteemed by Epicures, their flesh being- 

 delicate, juicy, tender, and high-flavored. The whole species 

 are wild, wary, cunning, and diflicult to be approached. 



