302 PROCEEDINGS OF THE 



The Grey Plover (Squaterola cinerea). 

 Very sparingly met with on the coasts. It appears to be much 

 commoner in the eastern counties than with us. 



The Lapwing, or Peewit (Fcmellus cristatus). 

 Extremely common in the autumn months, congregating in 

 pasture lands and the sea shore alternately. It disappears to a 

 great extent in November, and returns in April, when the 

 breeding haunts are occupied. They breed in communities of 

 twenty or thirty pairs. In the last week of July, 1869, we 

 observed a number of pairs of lapwings on the farm of Turnberry 

 Warren, near Girvan, and being attracted by the behaviour of the 

 birds as they jilunged in the air while we drove past, we made a 

 search in the field, and were surprised to find concealed among 

 the ruslaes eight or ten broods in the dovm. These young birds 

 were not more than ten days old. We have often observed this 

 bird on moonlight evenings travelling in companies at a late 

 hour, and at a considerable height in the air. ' Rural people in 

 Ayrshire speak of the peesweep as a restless and " ill-conditioned 

 brute." A properly seasoned dish of lapwings, however, about 

 the close of autumn, when their flesh is really palatable, might 

 help to dissipate this prejudice. 



The Turnstone {Strepsilas interpres). 

 Although the Turnstone cannot be called a common species in 

 Ayrshire, it is never altogether absent. It is generally seen flying 

 in flocks of five or six birds, and is somewhat restless in its habits, 

 owing, probably, to the beach being unsuitable for a prolonged 

 stay. Very fine specimens, nearly in the full breeding plumage, 

 have been obtained by Mr Eaton at Ardrossan, where it appears 

 to linger every year until May. In its winter dress it is common 

 in some parts of Wigtownshire, such as the Bay of Wigtown, Gar- 

 liestown Harbour, and the shores of Loch Ryan, etc. 



The Oyster-Catcher (Rcematojms ostmlcgus). 

 Very common. On Fairlie Sands as many as fifty or sixty may 

 be seen at a time, ranged along the oozy shores at low water. 

 Southward on the Ayrshire coast, however, it becomes less numer- 

 ous, and from Ayr to Ballantrae it occurs mostly in pairs, the 

 small sandy bays offering but little temptation to a greater num- 



