534 A PRACTICAL HANDBOOK OF BRITISH BIRDS. 



winter are widely distributed on low-lying marshes and fields 

 returning to moors March and April, sometimes as early as mid- 

 Feb. Probably takes part in winter weather-movements. 



Distribution. — Abroad. — Breeds north and west Jutland and 

 Laeso (island in Cattegat) and probably Germany, but exact 

 distribution at present uncertain. 



379. Charadrius apricarius apricarius L. — THE NORTHERN 

 GOLDEN PLOVER. 



Charadritts apricarius Linnseus, Syst. Nat., ed. x, i, p. 150 (1758 — 



Oeland [island near Sweden] and America : the latter erroneous, ex 



Edwards). 



Charadrius pluvialis Linnaeus, Yarrell, in, p. 271 ; Saunders, p. 547. 



Description. — Adult male and female. Winter. — Indistinguishable 

 from C. a. oreophilos. Summer. Male. — Moult as in C. a. oreophilos 

 after which it differs from that form as follows : upper -parts when 

 series compared paler, yellow markings larger and paler ; narrow 

 black-brown band across fore -part of fore -head ; behind this a 

 broad white band which extends over each eye^ down sides of neck 

 and breast, where it widens out forming a clean white patch on each 

 side of breast ; flanks white more or less barred brown-black and 

 intermixed with black, not intermixed with golden feathers as in 

 C. a. oreophilos ; lateral and long under tail-coverts (sometimes 

 most) white irregularly marked black-brown slightly suffused 

 golden ; lores, ear-coverts, cheeks and throat black-brown ; under - 

 parts more uniform black or black-brown ; chin whitish or dusky- 

 black, feathers with white bases ; vent more or less black. Female. 

 — As male but black-brown band on fore -part of fore -head narrower, 

 and sometimes ill-defined or absent ; ear-coverts and cheeks 

 golden, feathers spotted and tipped black-brown, or with black tips 

 and broad imperfectly concealed white bases, sometimes throat 

 more or less intermixed with white feathers or white feathers tinged 

 golden ; white band down sides of neck narrower and sometimes 

 ill-defined (in one bird white patch at side of breast intermixed 

 golden spotted sepia) ; flank-feathers sometimes tinged golden. 



Juvenile. — Apparently not distinguishable. 



Measurements. — $ wing 181-194 mm., tarsus 37-42, bill from 

 feathers 21-24 (16 measured). $ wing 182-193 (one worn 177), 

 bill 21-26 (10 measured). 



Breeding-habits. — Similar to those of British race. Eggs. — Also 

 similar but Key's average for 26 is rather less, 51.4x34.1. Max. : 

 54.7x36.2. Min. : 48.2x33.3 mm. Breeding -season. — Varies 

 according to latitude, seldom before latter half May in high north. 



Food. — Includes insects ; coleoptera (Melolontha larvae, Tenebrio, 

 Haltica, etc.), larvse of diptera, etc. Also earthworms, small mollusca 

 and vegetable matter including seeds of Polygonum, Scleranthus, 

 etc., and berries of Rhamnus, Vaccinium, Oxycoccus, and Empetrum. 



