COMMON RING-PLOVER. 123 



they are seen by the banks of lakes in the Highlands of 

 Scotland. Mr. Salmon, speaking of the migratory birds of 

 the neighbourhood of Thetford, in Norfolk, says " it is very 

 abundant upon all our warrens during the breeding season, 

 and is the first bird that gives us notice of its arrival in the 

 spring, by its low plaintive whistle whilst on the wing, and 

 garrulous note of satisfaction when it alights upon the 

 ground. These notes are peculiarly pleasing at this early 

 season of the year upon our warrens, where hitherto silence 

 has reigned for several months, only interrupted by the occa- 

 sional whistle of a flock of Golden Plovers as they sweep 

 past you ; but, as the season advances, its notes are too 

 melancholy for the freshness of spring. It commences its 

 nidification very early, as I have found them sitting upon 

 their eggs on the 30th of March. After having reared their 

 offspring, they all take their departure, by the middle of 

 August, for the sea-coast, where they remain throughout the 

 winter."— Mag. of Nat. Hist. vol. ix. p. 522. 



This species is found on all our sandy sea-shores from 

 one end of the island to the other, and is plentiful in the 

 Shetland and Orkney Isles, as well as in the Hebrides, 

 especially the Outer, whose western coasts are chiefly of 

 shell sand. It remains all winter, but then usually deserts 

 the more exposed parts, and frequents the bays, creeks, and 

 estuaries, scarcely ever at that season going up rivers beyond 

 the tide. It has been supposed to be more numerous with 

 us in winter than in summer, and the alleged increase in the 

 former season has been attributed to the immigration of indi- 

 viduals from more northern countries. This may be correct ; 

 yet, if we consider that the birds are scattered in pairs 

 during summer, so that few at a time can be seen along the 

 coast, while many too resort to the interior, and that they 

 collect in autumn and winter into large flocks, causing 

 the species to appear very numerous, although only in 

 particular places, it may well seem difficult to decide. 



It occurs in the arctic and northern regions of the Old 

 Continent, and has been seen as far south as the shores of the 

 Mediterranean. In Iceland and Greenland it has also been 

 met with ; but the Ring-Plovers found in North America 



