C H Ä M m i i r s P tu v m iL i s :,.: ¿¿n,,.
CHARADRIUS» PLUVIALI S , Linn.
Golden Plover.
Charädrius pluvialis (winter) et apricarius (summer), Linn. Syst. N torn. i. p. 254.
Phimälis apricarius, Bonap. Compt. Rend, de l’Acad. des Sei., torn, xliii. (1866) p. 34.
■ “ aurea minor, Brisa. Orn., tom. y. p. 47.
—■ ~ '---------- , Macgill. Ilist. Brit. Birds, vol. ii.-p. 94.
*----- mralus, Suckow, Naturg. der Thiere, tom. ii. p. 1592.
I» commencing the history o f the Golden Plover, shall I speak o f it in an Epicurean sense, as being one of
our best birds for the table, and as pkivirtg a J |tr t in commerce equal to that o f the Snipe and the
Woodcock? shall I approach the subject with an account o f its habits and economy during the months of
winter, when it assembles in docks, and nma ovcr our fallow fields and barren heaths ? o r shall I speak of
it in the mountain-home where it spends the summer among fiowery ling and heather-bells, where it sends
forth its pipe to the antlered monarch, trips beside the blue hare, or tilts with the Grouse that may
approach too near its ncsting-place ? At this period its vesture o f black is beautifully relieved by streaks
o f white and spangles o f yellow, and the bird Is in its greatest beauty. Few persons are aware that the
Golden Plover undergoes a seasonal transformation^ Linnæus and many o f the older aut hors considered that
these very distinct plumages were indications o f specific distinctness : but it is My place to depict the
remarkable differences which occur in the summer and winter liveries of some o f our native birds; and the
présent is one o f them.
i believe the opinion is entertained th at^ p u rity o f colour and richness of markings depend in a
great measure upon elevation, the clearness o f the atmosphere and the non-obstruction o f the rays of light ;
whether this be correct o r not, I have always found Itutt greater the elevation a bird frequents, be it a
Ptarmigan or a Ployer, the richer are the tints o f its ¡¡mwd&K m wmio&h **4 tW greater the contrast of
its winter dress.$ These features., tew, are still more apparent 'among i r. iiiiiitrtfnf jÉjm frfrtntf examples • thus
th * Ptarmigan and Golden. Plovers o f Norway are far finer, and undergo a more complete change in
summer and winter, than those o f Scotland o r Ireland. The like is the eatj& with other bird* o f which
I could cite numerous instances, were it necessary. I enter into these Btfle d im - iiflhuii far o u ï t. 1 believe
they are not without their::interest* and for the sake o f variety ; for the habits o f our native birds have been
so repeatedly and so ably described, th at the subject is well-nigh exhausted.
About the fall of the leaf, or when autumn presagesi tji§ eoming winter, the Golden Plovers, both adults
and young, leave the misty mountain-side, and, assembling in flocks, visit every portion of the central and
southern districts o f England, from the Cheviots* to Cornwall. I t may now he seen in all the open
moorlands, fallow field», commons, and great marshes, such as those which occur, in Lincolnshire, Norfolk,
and Suffolk, on the sandhills near the sea-shore and the muddy flats; left by the receding tide. Its great
powers of flight enable it to pass over vast distances with such rapidity that, while at one moment it may be
Seen on the sea-shore, in half an h o u rs ft me it is miles away on some upland waste. The bird has now put on
its winter livery, is very fat an.! «» mw table, but continues to improve in this respect from the
commencement o f the autumn frosts n«*ft wfcjpipife'Pebru;irv, when an entire change in its disposition occurs.
** Coming évents cast their shadows o f the sun induces it to remove to other localities, and
to prepare for the performance o f a more 'feftpo riant duty—that of breeding. The assumption o f the
summer, d ress now commences With the .appearance o f Mack feathers on its previously white breast and
throat, both sexes being under the same influence. By the cud o f April or the beginning o f May most of
the Golden Plovers have left the kmdaUdt, some resorting to the Cheviots, others to the Grampians, the wilds
of Shtheriandshire, and as far north as favourable situations oeeur, some even proceeding to Iceland. In
Ireland the habits o f the bird are precisely the same as in our nwtt island, inasmuch as it spends the summer
among the hills, and the autumn and winter on the lowlands .nod the sea-shore. Mr. Alfred Newton affirms
that the bird certainly breeds in Yorkshire, and probably !« Derbyshire also. Macgillivraÿ bas given so
graphic a description o f the habits o f the Golden Pfcwer. as witnessed by him in the summer, that I shall not
hesitate to transcribe it here. “ Amid the wild (fcenery o f the rugged hills and sedgy valleys, the mellow
notes o f the Plover come gently and soothingly on the -nr. and 5 i.m feel, without being altogether comtcioa*
its power, that it soothes tfae troubled mind as Wjfljfr cogiw dfa» burning brow. As you listen to it, now distant,
now nearer, and see the birds, with short flights, approadving as if to greet you, though in ra&tY with more
fear than confidence, with anxiety and apprehension, the ¡.right sunshine that glances on their jetty breasts
is faintly obscured by the white vapours that have crept up from the valley, and presently ail amund as is