CHARADRIUS, or the plover, in natu ral history, a genus of birds of the or der Grallx. Generic character : bill straight, and in general about the length of the head ; nostrils linear ; three toes, and all placed forward. There are twen ty-six species, of which the most interest ing are the following.
C. pluvialis, or the golden plover. This species inhabits Great Britain during the whole of the year, frequenting particular ly the Grampian Hills and the mountains of the Hebrides. Theirlength is about ten inches and a half. They make a shrill noise like that of a whistle, by the imitation of which they are easily decoyed withiA reach of the gun.
C. himantopus, or long legged plover, is occasionally to be found in England, though now but rarely. It is common in Egypt, where its food consists of flies. It is mostcharacteristicallydesignated,as the length of its legs is most extraordinary.
C. hiaticula, or ringed plover, arrives in England in the spring, and leaves it in autumn. During the summer these birds frequent the coast. They run withli great rapidity, and often for a considera ble time mingle short flights and rapid runnings, till at length they avoid the dan ger pursuing them, by retreating to some cleft or hole, or flying off completely. It
is obterved to use various stratagems to attract attention from its young. The fe male builds no nest, and lays her eggs upon the ground.
C. morinellus, or the dotterel. This species abounds in various parts of Eng land, particularly in Cambridgeshire. They are migratory, and appear often in flocks of eight or ten. They are suppos ed to breed in the mountains of Cumber land, as they !appear there in May, and are not seen there after the breeding season. In June they become extremely' fat in Lincolnshire and Derbyshire, and are highly esteemed for their flavour and delicacy. They abound in Sweden, Russia, and Siberia, and from their extraordinary stupidity fall an easy prey to the clumsi est stratagem of the fowler. See Plate IV. Ayes, fig. 4 and 5.