GOLDEN PLOVER. 171 



The general appearance of the Golden Plover on the ground 

 is peculiar enough to distinguish it from most others of its 

 family, owing to its chequered plumage and thick roundhead; 

 its gait is not less distinct, for it runs with great velocity 

 and for a considerable distance, now and then stopping on 

 some slight elevation, in order that it may look about to 

 guard against danger, as circumstances may require. 



On the wing the Golden Plover is very expert and swift, 

 much resembling in that particular the lapwing; it utters 

 its shrill note continually, and consequently often endangers 

 its own safety ; its note sounds like the word tluwee, tluwee ! 

 uttered at a high pitch, and considerably loud. 



In our neighbourhood we have had opportunities of ob- 

 serving the manners of the present species for several years, 

 and there are few winter visitors that have given us more 

 pleasure to watch, or that occur in greater numbers ; it will 

 hardly be necessary to remark, that we speak of the meadows 

 bordering on the Thames near Chertsey. When going out 

 early in the morning we have seen several flocks, particularly 

 from December till March, haunting the vicinity, and either 

 running about in numbers on the ground, or sweeping low 

 over our heads, and by imitating their call-note, they in- 

 variably approached within gun-shot ; during the middle of 

 the day they are either seen standing on the ground or 

 skimming very low over it ; and in the evening, when we 

 have watched for ducks or snipes just before dark, we have 

 seen whole flocks of the Golden Plover come over the osier- 

 beds at an incredible rate from several quarters, flying in close 

 crowds to their feeding-ground on the short grass, and under 

 such circumstances it is easy to kill several of them at one 

 shot. 



The flesh of the Golden Plover is very excellent food, and, 

 generally speaking, the birds are in good condition. 



p 2 



