GOLDEN PLOVER. 367 



GOLDEN PLOVER. {Charadrius pluvialis.) 



PLATE LIX.— Fig. 5. 



Arct. Zool. p. 493.. No. 399.— Bewick, i. 322.— Le Pluvier Dore, Buff. viii. 81, 

 PI. enl. 904.— Peak's Museum, No. 4198. 



CHARADRIUS VIRGINIANUS.— Bonaparte.* ' 



Charadrius pluvialis, Bonap. Synop. p. 297. — North. Zool. ii. p. 369. — Charadrius 

 Virginianus, Bonap. Osser. Sulla, 2d edit. Del. Regn. Anim. Guv. p. 93. — 

 Charadrius marmoratus, Wagl. Syst. Av. Char. No. 42. 



This beautiful species visits the sea-coast of New York and 

 New Jersey in spring and autumn ; but does not, as far as I 



* The Prince of Musignano, after the publication of his " Synopsis of 

 North American Birds," and " Observations on Wilson's Nomenclature," 

 pointed out the distinction of the North American and European birds. 

 The plate, of Wilson also shows every character of the northern birds. 

 The lengthened bill and legs, the more distinct dorsal spotting, and 

 clearer colour of the forehead, the dusky hue of the under parts, and 

 the mention, by Ord, of the brown axillaries, all point out this bird, 

 which can never be mistaken. The following are the principal distinc- 

 tions which appear between skins of G. Virginianus from India and New 

 Holland, and specimens of C. pluvialis, shot this forenoon : — 



G. pluvialis. C. Virginianus. 



1. Total length, 10^ inches. 1. The skinsare about 10 inches in 



length, but are much stretched ; 

 9j, or 8, as mentioned by Wag- 

 ler, nearly the true length. 



2. Length of bill to extremity of 2. Length of bill to extremity of 

 gape, 1 inch. g a P e > H lllc h. 



3. Length of wing, from joining 3. Length of wing, from joining 

 of bastard pinion to forearm, of bastard pinion to forearm, 

 and tip of first or longest quill, and tip of first or longest quill, 

 8 inches. 6j inches. 



4. Length of unfeathered tibia, f 4. Length of unfeathered tibia, f 

 inch. inch. 



5. Length of tarsus, If inch. 5. Length of tarsus, nearly If 



inch. 



6. Throat,lower part of the breast, 6. Throat, and all under parts, 

 belly, vent, and crissum, pure dull yellowish gray, with 

 white. darker tips to the feathers. 



