^9 



GOLDEN PLOVER. 



CHARADRIUS PLUVIALIS, Linn. 



Charadrlus pluvialis, Linn. S. N. i. p. 254 (17GG) ; Naum. 



xiii. p. 221 ; Heivitson, i. p. 291 ; Yarr. ed. 4, iii. 



p. 271 ; Dresser, vii. p. 433. 

 Charadrlus auratus, Naum. vii. p. 138. 

 Pluvialis aurea, Macg. iv. p. 94. 



Pluvier dore, Frencli ; Gold-Reg enpfeifer, German ; Chor- 

 lilo, Spanish. 



This bird is too well known to require many details 

 at my hands, although it is very possible that in the 

 summer plumage shown in the figure here given it may 

 not be so familiar to some of my readers as in the 

 plainer garb of autumn and winter, when the lower 

 parts are more or less white and spotless. 



The Golden Plover nests on the moorlands of the 

 three kingdoms, generally at a considerable elevation, 

 the eggs, of which the full complement is four, are very 

 beautiful, of a warm yellow stone-colour, profusely 

 blotched with very dark purple or black. The whistle 

 of this bird is very musical and sweet, though somewhat 

 mournful. In autumn the Golden Plovers leave the 

 high moors, and are to be met with, sometimes in very 



