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HINTS FOR COLLECTING WATER BIRDS. 



are necessary to exhibit the birds in every variety of plumage, and also 

 the times, as far as I am able, when they may be obtained in greatest 

 perfection. 



As the plover family, following the bustards, connects the waders 

 with the land birds, I will begin with them : — and, first, of the golden 

 plover ( Charadrius pluvialis), four specimens of which will be requi- 

 site, — one in summer with its black breast, one in winter when it quite 

 loses it, one in March when acquiring it, and a young one in autumn : 

 and the same may be said of the grey lapwing (Vanellus melano- 

 gastev) ; the young of this species very much resembles the young of 

 the golden plover, but may be distinguished from it by the black 

 feathers under the wing. These birds are seldom seen in flocks, but 

 generally in little bunches of four or five, and very frequently a few 

 are interspersed with a flock of dunlins. 



Of the ring dotterel {Charadrius hiaticula), an old male and female 

 and the young will be sufficient. 



The lapwing ( Vanellus cristatus) is handsomer the latter end of 

 April and May than at any other time of the year ; the whole plumage 

 is more vivid, the black on the breast enlarged, and the crest longer : 

 the female is not quite so bright in colour, and the young have but a 

 very short crest till after the moult. 



The sanderling (Calidris arenaria), it will be necessary to have at 

 least three specimens of, — the old in summer and winter, and the young 

 in autumn, and if one or two in change be added, it will be better; the 

 young have all the feathers of the back widely margined with white, 

 and after the moult become plain grey till the spring, when they again 

 change, — the middle of the feathers of the back get black, and are 

 edged with rufous. 



The oyster-catcher (Hcematopus ostralegus) loses the white on the 

 neck in the summer months; one should be got then, and one in winter; 

 the young have the feathers of the back and wings margined with 

 brown. 



The heron (Ardea cinerea) does not acquire its beautiful crest, and 

 long flowing feathers of the breast, till after the third year, and is 

 rather difficult to be met with in this plumage; the young have but the 

 rudiments of these, and in this state nine out of ten will be found, at 

 least in this part of the world. The bittern (Ardea stellaris) is 

 perfect after the first moult ; one of these may be considered sufficient; 

 the males are, however, rather the brightest coloured. 



The curlew (Numenius arquata), and the whimbrel (TV", ph&opus), 



