150 THE GAME BIEDS AND WILD FOWL 



musical trill, a variation of the double or treble call-note. The whistle of this 

 Plover is one of the most characteristic sounds of the mud-flats or the moors, 

 and on a calm still day may be heard for a very long distance. 



Nidification. — The Golden Plovers begin to retire to their inland breeding 

 grounds early in April, and by the end of that month or early in May the eggs 

 are deposited. Although the vast flocks soon break up, either before the moors 

 are reached or shortly after arrival, the bird continues more or less sociable, and 

 many nests may be found within a comparatively small area on suitable ground. 

 This species is very conspicuous on the bare moors, and is remarkably fond of 

 proclaiming its presence either by standing perched on the top of a little hillock, 

 or rising into the air, uttering its piping note the moment its solitudes are invaded 

 by man. It is in Spring much more tame than in winter, and often flies up to 

 the observer and wheels above his head, or stands quietly watching his approach. 

 Before the flocks finally disperse, however, this bird is almost as wary as when 

 on the coast. The well-known note sounds near and far, as it is uttered by 

 answering birds all over the wilderness, and here, there, and everywhere the 

 showy Plovers in their brazen spotted upper plumage and black underparts rise 

 and fall in airy grace. The Golden Plover appears to pair annually, and the nest 

 is very slight, a mere hollow, scantily lined with a few bits of withered herbage 

 peculiar to the moor. It is generally made on a tuft of herbage, or beneath the 

 shelter of a clump of cotton-grass, more rarely in barer situations, amongst 

 short wiry grass and heath. The eggs are four in number, pyriform, buff of 

 various shades in ground-colour, boldly and richly spotted and blotched with 

 purplish-brown and brownish-black, and more sparingly with grey. Most of the 

 colouring is generally distributed on the larger end of the egg. They measure on 

 an average 2'0 inches in length by 1'4 inch in breadth. Both parents assist in 

 the duty of incubation, which lasts sixteen to twenty days. The birds are 

 remarkably watchful at the breeding grounds, and the sentinel bird quickly 

 conveys the signal of alarm to its mate, which slips quietly off the eggs, and- often 

 both rise into the air and wheel round and round above them. Sometimes they 

 run anxiously to and fro about the moor, occasionally uttering a mournful note ; 

 and as soon as the nearly hatched eggs are discovered they commence a series of 

 antics to draw all attention upon themselves. When the young are hatched these 

 actions are even more demonstrative. The young chicks, clothed in yellow down, 

 spotted and blotched with black, are quick to conceal themselves at the ap- 

 proach of danger, and remain crouching to the ground, which so closely resembles 

 their own protective dress, until all is still and safe again. One brood only is 

 reared in the year. 



Diagnostic characters.— Charadrius, with all the rectriccs barred and 

 the axillaries white. Length, 10 to 11 inches. 



