DorrereL. GRALLATORES. CHARADRIUS. 239 
During its short abode with us, which is only in particular 
districts, it haunts fallow and newly sown corn-fields, as well as 
moors and open downs. In the neighbourhood of Cambridge 
and Royston, it is killed during its vernal passage in consi- 
derable numbers; its flesh, which is sweet and of delicate 
flavour, being highly prized for the table. In Northumber- 
land, it frequents some few places along the coast, and in 
North Durham, about Scrimerston and Unthank (four 
miles south of Berwick), it annually appears in large flocks. 
Its food, like that of the Golden Plover, consists of worms, 
slugs, insects, and their larvee. 
Pate 39. Fig. 1. Represents the male bird in summer plum- 
age. 
Crown of the head deep clove-brown, each feather being 
finely margined with white. Over each eye is a broad 
streak of white, which meet behind, at the nape of the 
neck. Cheeks, chin, and throat white. Lower part of 
the neck, and upper part of the breast, pale hair-brown, 
tinged with grey. Pectoral fascia consisting of a streak 
of black and a broader one of white. Lower part of the 
breast and belly orange-brown. Abdomen black. Vent 
and under tail-coverts reddish-white. Upper parts of 
the body pale hair-brown, tinged with ash-grey, the 
feathers being margined with pale orange-brown. Tail 
slightly wedge-shaped, having the two middle feathers 
of a uniform pale hair-brown, the rest on each side with 
white tips, and the outmost, with its outer web, also 
white. Quills deep hair-brown, the shaft of the first 
being white, very thick and strong. Legs and toes yel- 
lowish-brown. Bill dusky. 
In the female, the pectoral band is not so distinct; the 
orange-brown upon the breast much paler, and tinged 
with grey, and the abdomen mixed with white feathers. 
Fig. 2. Is taken from a female bird after the autumnal moult. 
Forehead white, streaked with brown. Crown of the head 
General 
descrip- 
tion. 
Summer 
plumage. 
Winter 
plumage. 
