THE BIRDS OF THE ISLAND OF TIREE 219 



of this bird, which has rather a bitter taste. Although slow and 

 somewhat heavy of flight, they seem to migrate a good deal, as 

 their numbers are always changing throughout the winter. Like 

 the last species, they have to be handled carefully, as they scratch 

 severely. 



Ringed Plover {/Egialitis hiaticuld). -This is an abundant 

 and resident species. They are to be seen winter and summer on 

 all the sandy bays and reaches all round the coast of the island. 

 They feed below high-water mark in ordinary weather, but 

 during very stormy periods, and when there is a heavy sea running, 

 I see them feeding on the pastures, and on crofts that have 

 been manured with seaweed along with Turnstones and Oyster- 

 catchers. A good many of them nest on the reef pastures, where 

 there are no small stones or shells to be got, and line their nests 

 with dry sheeps' droppings. Ringed Plovers are sociable birds, 

 and will flock with Dunlins, Sanderlings, Turnstones, and others. 



Golden Plover (Charadrius pluvialis). This species is only 

 entirely absent from Tiree during the months of June and July. 

 They are present in ever-varying numbers during the other months 

 of the year. They begin to return from their breeding-grounds 

 towards the latter end of August, and gradually increase in numbers 

 until by the middle of October, when there are enormous crowds of 

 them on all the machar pastures and on the crofters' commons. 

 Later their numbers become much less, but thousands remain all 

 winter unless a protracted spell of frost and snow occurs, which 

 drives them all away ; but they return again when thaw comes, and 

 pass here in enormous crowds during March, April, and May, on 

 their way north to their breeding-grounds. Some of them begin 

 to get a few black feathers on the breast as early as the first week 

 in February, and in March they are in full breeding plumage. 

 I think they are the fastest birds on the wing that we have. I 

 remember watching a flock of Rock Pigeons going home to the 

 caves, when a flock of Golden Plover came in sight, flying in the 

 same direction. Although far behind when I first "noticed them, the 

 Golden Plover soon overhauled and passed the Pigeons they 

 were going at twice the pace of the latter. 



Grey Plover {Squatarola helvetica). A sparse visitor round 

 the sea-shore on the autumn and spring migrations mostly single 

 birds, which frequent salt and brackish pools. The bird never 

 goes inland to feed, like the other Plovers. 



