Sbore-bird Shooting 453 



the back, but less brilliant ; upper tail-coverts, deep rufous ; 



basal half and top of the tail, white ; subterminal portion, black, 



this color disappearing on the outer feathers ; lower parts, pure 



white, becoming rufous under the tail. 

 Adult female — Resembles male, but the throat is white, crest 



shorter, and upper parts less brilliant in color. 

 Winter plumage — Is similar, but the throat is white, the black band 



on the breast tipped on some feathers with white ; some feathers 



on the back tipped with buff. 

 Young — Similar to adult in winter, but feathers of upper parts edged 



with sandy buff; little purple gloss on scapulars ; crest very 



short ; sides of head and throat marked with sandy buff. 

 Downy young — Above, light brownish gray, mottled with black; 



shoulders marked with rusty ; hind neck and entire lower parts, 



white ; chest, grayish. 

 Measurements — Length, 13 inches ; culmen, 1 inch ; wing, 9 inches ; 



tarsus, 2 inches. 

 Eggs — Four in number; dark olive, blotched with brown ; measure 



1^93 by 1.34 inches. 

 Habitat — Breeds from Great Britain and central Europe, through 



Asia to northern China and Japan, and north to the Arctic 



circle in Europe, and latitude 55 north in Siberia. Winters 



from Great Britain, central Europe, the Azores, and northern 



Africa, east to northwest India and southern China. Has been 



recorded from Greenland, Nova Scotia, Long Island, New 



York, Barbadoes, and Norton Sound, Alaska. 



This is the species that lays the " plovers' eggs " 

 so well known to European epicures. It breeds 

 in great numbers in western Europe, usually in 

 marshes but often on the uplands, and its eggs 

 are sold in market in thousands and tens of 

 thousands, and until recently large numbers of 

 the birds themselves were taken for sale in the 

 breeding season. In spite of this persecution 

 its numbers are still great, and one visiting suit- 



