GOLDEN PLOVER. 



213 



rouse them : during- the summer they frequent the orchards and gardens, 

 feasting upon the cherry. In the month of August they begin to leave 

 that country in families, returning again the following May. 



Their usual note is loud and shrill, but Bechstein had two young- 

 favorites of this species, one of whom, in addition to its natural song, 

 would whistle a fanfare, and the other a minuet ; the full, soft and 

 melodious tones of their voice seemed to him extremely agreeable.* 

 GOLDEN PLOVER {Ckaradrius pluvialis, Linnjeus.) 

 Charadrius pluvialis, Linn. Syst. 1. p. 254. 7. — Temm. Man. d'Orn. 2. p. 535. — 

 Gmel. Syst. 2. p. 688.— Ind. Orn. 2. p. 740. 1.— Briss. 5. p. 43. 1. t. 4. f. 1.— 

 Ib. 8vo. 2. p. 222. — Flem. Br. Anim. p, 113. — Pluvialis viridis, Rail, Syn. p. 

 111. A. 2.— 190. 9. — Will. p. 229. t. 57.— Pluvialis aurea minor, Briss. 5. p. 

 47. 2.— Ib. 8vo. p. 223.— Charadrius apricarius, Gmel. Syst. 1. p. 687.— Le 

 Pluvier dore, Buff. Ois. 8. p. 81.— Golden, or Green Plover, Br. Zool. 2. No. 

 208. t. 72. — Ib. fol. 128.— Arct. Zool. 2. No. 399.— Will. (Angl.) p. 308.— 

 Albin, 1. t. 75.— Lath, Syn. 5. p. 193. 1.— Supp. p. 252.— Leivins Br. Birds, 



3. t. 181.— Wale. Syn. 2. t. 158 Don. Br. Birds, 2. t. 45.— Pult. Cat. Dorset. 



p. 16. 



Provincial. — Grey Plover. Whistling Plover. 

 Weight of this species between seven and eight ounces ; length ten 

 inches and a half. Bill one inch, dusky; irides hazel. The general 

 plumage above is dusky, spotted with greenish yellow, brighter on the 

 back and scapulars, palest on the wing coverts; sides of the head and 

 neck, and sides of the body, lighter ; middle of the belly and vent 

 white ; quills dusky, slightly margined at the tips with grey ; tail dusky, 

 spotted with yellow and dull white, somewhat in form of bars ; legs 

 black. 



*A variety is said to possess a small claw behind, in lieu of a back 

 toe. In the breeding season, both sexes appear black on the lower part 

 of the breast : these feathers begin to shew themselves in March, and 

 are perfected in May, at which time the female begins to lay. It is a 

 common bird, found in most parts of the known world. With us it 

 chiefly inhabits open ground, such as heaths, moors, and downs ; in 

 severe weather, the sea coast; but repairs to the more uncultivated 

 waste of the northern mountains to breed. We have seen them in 

 various parts of Scotland on swampy ground, upon the higher hills, and 

 even on the lower lands covered with heath, amongst which they lay 

 their eggs, four in number, about the size and shape of that of the lap- 

 wing ; colour cinereous-olive, blotched with dusky. The young run as 

 soon as they are excluded from the egg, and follow the old ones to the 

 moist places in search of worms. At first they are covered with down 

 of a dusky colour, and are incapable of flying for a considerable time. 

 The parent birds are very tenacious of their young ; become very bold 



