THE GOLDEN PLOVER. 



521 



The food of the Lapwing consists ahnost wholly of grubs, slugs, worms, and insects. It 

 is easily tamed, and is often kept in gardens for the purpose of ridding them of these destruc- 

 tive creatures. In the garden next our own a Lapwing was kept, and lived for some years, 

 tripping featly over the grass and thoroughly at home. 



In its coloring the Lapwing is rather a handsome bird. The top of the head is black, as 

 is the long-pointed crest, which can be raised or depressed at will. The sides of the face and 

 neck are white, speckled with })lack ; the chin, throat, and breast are jetty-black, and from the 

 chin a black streak runs under the eye. The upper part of the body is shining coppery -green, 

 glazed with pxii-ple, and the primary feathers of the wing are black, with some grayish- white 

 at their tips. The upper tail-coverts are chestnut, and the tail is half w^hite and half black, 

 the exterior feather on each side being almost wholly white. The under parts are white, 

 changing to fawn on the under tail-coverts. In winter the chin and throat are white. The 

 yearling birds are mottled with buff on the back. The total length of tlie bird rather exceeds 

 one foot. 



The Lapwing is now enumerated with North American birds, on the strength of the fact 

 that it is occasionally seen as a straggler here. Several other instances are known of similar 

 character. Usually, in these cases of exceptional migration, there is seldom more than one 

 indi\idual noticed. Occasionally, perhaps, a pair is observed. 



:\ i- 









DOTTEREL and GOLDEN VUyfER.—Charadrius TnoHnettm and pluvlalis. 



The two Plovers represented in the engraving are common throughout Europe. 



The Golden Plover, sometimes called the Yellow Plover from its prettily colored 

 plumage, is very common in many parts of Europe, being found mostly in the moi'e northern dis- 

 tricts, moving southward in the autumn. The spots which it selects for its breeding-places are 

 generally situated on open moors, where the vegetation is but scanty, and water is at hand, 



Vol. n.— 66. 



