238 THE BIRDS OF IONA AND MULL. 



migration, at least not in large flocks, for only a few single individuals 

 may sometimes be met with in autumn. I am not aware of any 

 breeding place near. 



The Lapwing. 



Gaelic, Aclharcan luachrach, the horned creature of the rushes ; Curacag, hooded ; 

 and Pibhinn (pee veen), from its cry ; and binn, musical, shrill. 



This well-known bird is common enough at all times of the year, 

 though not in anything like the abundance it is found in on estuaries 

 of rivers and fen lands. In winter small flocks may be met with on 

 the moors or on the seashore, and in the breeding season pairs are 

 found scattered over all the moors and on almost every island, even 

 the very smallest, if, as is usually the case, a spot of boggy, wet ground 

 exists somewhere on its rocky surface. 



The Golden Plover. 



Gaelic, Feadag and Triollachan, the little whistler or triller. 



Remains with us all the year round, but in winter alone is ordi- 

 narily met with in small parties on the seashore. In more than 

 ordinary hard frosts they assemble in very large flocks, and at such 

 times are not only void of their usual shyness, but seem absolutely 

 without consciousness of danger, and I have lain down close to a flock, 

 waiting an opportunity of stringing as many as possible at a shot, when 

 they would run close past the muzzle of the gun. At other times, when 

 only a little uneasy at being approached, I have remarked their instinct 

 of rendering themselves inconspicuous. When first seen running on 

 the white sand, or with the sea for a background, they look quite large 

 birds, but in a moment they get on to broken ground among rock and 

 stones, where they squat and compress themselves in such a manner as 

 to become nearly invisible, avoiding clustering together or getting in a 

 line, and so presenting as small a mark as possible for firing at. 



The sandy, grass-grown levels of the island of Tiree abound with 

 golden plover in autumn and winter. 



The Dotterel. 



I never met with, though it is known by name as the Amadcm 

 mbintich, the fool of the moor. 



