XLVI. 

 CHARADRIUS PLUVIALIS. (linn.) 



Golden Plover. 



The Golden Plover, though never numerously, is yet pretty 

 generally, dispersed over our heathy moors during the breed- 

 ing season, and is then rarely seen except in pairs ; it is very 

 watchful, and discovers itself long before you approach by its 

 clear and plaintive whistle, which may be heard at a great 

 distance, and is very deceiving ; upon hearing it when in 

 search of their eggs, I have frequently expected to see the 

 bird close beside me, and after anxiously searching with my 

 eyes all around, have discovered it perched at a distance of 

 three or four hundred yards upon some hillock or rising 

 ground upon which it mostly takes its stand. 



The Golden Plover is another of that groupe of birds 

 (comprising the genera Tringa, Totanus, Scolopax, &c.) 

 which always lay four eggs. 



They are very large, and placed in a hole in the ground 

 barely big enough to contain them ; this is its only nest, with 

 the addition usually of a slight lining of dry grass. 



Though as above-mentioned, very wary and difficult to 

 approach, save in the dusk of the evening, it will sometimes, 

 when the eggs are near hatching, almost allow itself to be 

 trodden upon before it leaves the nest. I have found the 

 eggs fresh in May and June ; they are a good deal like those 

 of the Peewit and Redshank, differing from the former in 

 being of a lighter ground-colour, and from both in size ; they 

 are considerably larger than either, and have the spots for 

 the most part of a deeper hue, being a very dark brown or 

 blue-black. 



