The Scottish Naturalist. 301 



Golden Plover, which, in comparison with the immense numbers 

 assembling in our fields every autumn, even only a few years 

 back, there may be said to be not one now for every hundred 

 that there were then. A few, however, are still to be found here 

 and there, in the breeding season, scattered over most of the 

 heathy tracts of the district, from the sources of the Tay to its 

 mouth, at which latter place, on Tent's Muir — one of the great 

 breeding-grounds of our Grallatores — this bird, along with many 

 others, has greatly suffered from the constant depredation of 

 their eggs by gatherers of them, from St Andrews and other 

 places. For the prevention of this there is no law, rendering 

 the Wild-Fowl Protection Act, without some clause in favour of 

 eggs, of little or no avail in the saving of our birds (in the course 

 of no very distant time) from total annihilation ; and, just as in 

 the case of the Great Auk, our Peewits and Golden Plovers, if 

 some steps be not speedily taken, will soon be things of the past, 

 and when '' the steed is stolen, there will be no use locking 

 the stable-door." I have heard the question asked, "Can it be 

 X truly said that, since the passing of the Wild-Fowl Protection Act 

 in 1872, there has been the slightest increase in any single bird 

 mentioned in it ? " Certainly, as far as my experience goes, it 

 seems to have been all the other way. Doubtless there are cer- 

 tain influences, over which we have no control, bearing against 

 it, as far as the migratory portion of our birds are concerned, as, 

 when they have left us and are no longer under our protecting 

 care, they may be shot with impunity in the country to which 

 they go, and even be sent back from thence to supply our mar- 

 kets. But to go no further than the Golden Plover and the 

 Lapwing, which may be considered resident, " have they in- 

 creased ? " I fear the answer is " No," and always will be till 

 egg-gathering is either abolished or in some measure greatly 

 restricted. 



94. ^GiALiTis HiATicuLA, Boic. (Ringed- Plovcr.) 



The Ringed-Plover, or Ring-Dotterel, as it is commonly called, 

 is frequent on many parts of the Tay and Earn, but seemingly 

 rather local, breeding on the shingly banks of both these rivers, 

 as well as the Tummel, where I have frequently found their 

 nests in company with the Oyster-Catcher; but Mr Horn con- 

 siders it rare in Strathtay. They also breed at the mouth of the 

 Tay on Tent's Muir, and are frequently to be seen, at most 

 seasons, on the sands in that locality. 



