71 



GOLDEN PLOVER. 

 CHARADRIUS PLUVIALIS. 

 [Plate LIX.— Fig. 5.] 



Arct. Zool. p. 493, JN'o. 399 Bewick, I, 332.— ie Pluvier dore. Buff. VIIl, 81. Vl. Eiil. 904.— 



Peale's jyiiiseum^ JVo. 4198. 



THIS beautiful species visits the sea coast of New York and 

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

 cover, breed in any part of the United States. They are most fre- 

 quently 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 this 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 Eu- 

 rope. It breeds on high and heathy mountains. The female lays 

 four eggs, of a pale olive color, variegated with blackish spots. 

 They usually fly in small flocks, and have a shrill whistling note. 

 Tliey are very frequent in Siberia, where they likewise breed; ex- 

 tend also to Kamtschatka, and as far south as the Sandwich isles. 

 In this latter place, Mr. Pennant remarks, " they are very small." 



Although these birds are occasionally found along our sea 

 coast, from Georgia to Maine, yet they are no where numerous ; 

 and I have never met with them in the interior. Our mountains 

 being generally covered with forest, and no species of heath having, 

 as yet, been discovered within the boundaries of the United States, 



* Arct. Zool. p. 484. 



