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Genus CHARADRIUS. 



Pluvialis apud Brisson, Orn. v. p. 42 (1760). 

 Charadrms, Linnceus, Syst. Nat. i. p. 254 (1766). 



The Golden Plovers form a small genus which is represented in the Palaearctic, Ethiopian, 

 Oriental, Australian, Nearctic, and Neotropical Regions, two species being found in the Western 

 Palsearctic Region, one being a resident, whereas the other is merely a straggler from the Eastern 

 Palsearctic Region. 



These Plovers frequent open grassy places, and even dry sandy localities, as well as the shores 

 of lagoons and lakes and the sea-shore ; indeed they are more frequently seen in the uplands and 

 on inland moors than elsewhere. Except during the breeding-season, they are gregarious, and 

 often collect in large flocks. They are migrants in most countries which they inhabit, leaving 

 their breeding-haunts in the autumn for southern climes or else for the sea-shore. They walk 

 and run with ease and swiftness, and are strong and active on the wing. They feed on insects 

 of various kinds, and are to a large extent nocturnal feeders. Their call-note is loud and clear, 

 and is more frequently uttered when the bird is on the wing. They breed in the uplands, their 

 nests being mere hollows in the moss or grass scantily lined with a few dry stalks, and deposit 

 four eggs, which are pyriform in shape and pale greenish ochreous in colour, spotted and blotched 

 with dark brown and pale purplish brown. 



Charadrms pluvialis, the type of the genus, has the bill shorter than the head, straight, 

 rather slender, the upper mandible straight to the end of the nasal sinus, and then slightly raised, 

 and decurved to the tip, which is narrow but rather obtuse ; gape-line straight ; nasal sinus long 

 and wide ; nostrils small, linear, subbasal ; wings long, pointed, the first quill longest ; tail 

 moderate, even ; legs moderately long, slender, the tibia bare for a short space ; tarsus covered 

 anteriorly and laterally with small hexagonal scales ; toes three in number, moderate or rather 

 short, the second and third connected by a web at the base ; claws short, rather feeble, slightly 

 arched, obtuse, that on the middle toe with the inner edge dilated. 



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