363 GOLDEN PLOVER. 



can discover, breed in any part of the United States. They 

 are most frequently met with in the months of September and 

 October; soon after which they disappear. The young birds 

 of the great black-bellied plover are sometimes mistaken for- 

 tius species. Hence the reason why Mr Pennant remarks his 

 having seen a variety of the golden plover, with black breasts, 

 which he supposed to be the young.* 



The golden plover is common in the northern parts of 

 Europe. It breeds on high and heathy mountains. The 

 female lays four eggs, of a pale olive colour, variegated with 

 blackish spots. They usually fly in small flocks, and have a 

 shrill whistling note. They are very frequent in Siberia, 



7. Pale markings on the upper 7. Pale markings on the upper 

 parts, dull gamhoge yellow; parts larger, and inclining more 

 spotting more in ohlong spots ; to clear white ; above, more 

 and, on the wing and tail- in spots on the sides of the 

 coverts, take the form of bars. feathers. 



8. Light markings on the tail 8. Light markings on the tail de- 

 dull and undecided, with a cided, nearly white ; no dark 

 decided dark barring. bar through it. 



9. Outer tail-feathers with pale 9. Outer tail-feathers, with white 

 margins, the distinct and fre- tip and outer margin, which 

 quent barring through the shoot down the rachis. 

 whole length. 



10. Under wing coverts and axil- 10. Under wing-coverts and axil- 

 laries, pure white. laries, wood brown gray. 



11. Lesser wing coverts, tipped 11. Lesser wing-coverts tipped and 

 with white, but otherwise of a rather broadly edged with 

 uniform colour. white. 



C.pluvialis is introduced into the " Northern Zoology," but I strongly 

 suspect these excellent ornithologists have overlooked the other species. 

 Both may be natives of North America ; I have never, however, seen or 

 received extra European specimens of the golden plover ; I possess C. 

 Virginianus from India, Arctic America, and New Holland, which 

 seems, in all those countries, very and exclusively abundant, and has 

 always been confounded with its ally. 



In plate 85 of " Ornithological Illustrations," this bird has most un- 

 accountably been described under the title of C. xanthochielus, Wagler. 

 It is undoubtedly this species, and figured from New Holland speci- 

 mens. — Ed. 



* Arct, Zool, p. 484. 



