THE GOLDEN PLOVER 



THE GOLDEN PLOVER. 



Charadrius pluvialis, Linnaeus. 

 Plate 63. 



The Golden Plover may be found at all times of the year in the British Islands, 

 where it breeds freely on the moors of Northern England, in smaller numbers in 

 Devonshire and Somersetshire, while in Scotland and Ireland it is plentiful in 

 summer on the mountain sides and heathery bogs. In autumn and winter it seeks 

 the low-ground pastures and mud-flats on the shores, when its numbers are 

 increased by flocks arriving from the Continent of Europe, which remain with 

 us till spring. This species has a wide distribution over Central and Northern 

 Europe, and ranges as far east as the Yenesei in Siberia. In winter it visits 

 Southern Europe, Africa, the Azores, and Canaries, and has wandered to India. 



The nest consists of a slight depression in the ground, sparsely lined with bents 

 and bits of heath, and generally situated among stunted grass or heather. It 

 contains four eggs, arranged with their pointed ends together, which in colour are 

 buff or yellowish-grey, blotched and spotted with deep rich brown and purplish- 

 brown markings. In the breeding season the Golden Plover loses much of its 

 usual wariness, and may then be watched at fairly close quarters. 



The bird represented in the plate in full summer plumage, showing the charac- 

 teristic black breast only assumed in the breeding season, was painted from a sketch 

 made in the month of April on a heathy flat by the Helmsdale in Sutherland, when 

 the birds were returning to their nesting haunts. After their usual manner when 

 feeding, they were scattered over the moor, some yards apart from each other, at 

 one time standing motionless, then again running forwards a few paces to pick up 

 some grub or worm, while at intervals they uttered that soft and melodious whistle 

 which harmonizes so well with their wild surroundings. In autumn and winter, 

 when the flocks come down to the fields and tidal estuaries, they are much sought 

 after by gunners, when the birds become very wary and difficult to approach. In 

 flight they move with great speed, progressing with steady beats of their long 

 pointed wings. * 



The female resembles the male in colour, but in summer the white parts of the 

 plumage are less pure and the black duller and not so extensive. 



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