274 CHARADRIIDJD. 



the nest as soon as hatched, and follow their parents till able 

 to fly and support themselves, which is in the course of a 

 month or five weeks, and during that period the old birds 

 display great anxiety in protecting their young brood, using 

 various stratagems to divert the attention of an enemy. 

 They have only one brood in the season. 



The usual food of this species appears to be worms, 

 slugs, beetles, and larvre ; and, when on the sea-coast, of 

 small testaceous mollusca of the genera Bissoa, Littorlna, 

 and Lacuna, together with the fry of the common mussel ; 

 a little vegetable food is also to be found in the gizzard at 

 times, and the seeds of the saline Glaiix maritlma are often 

 swallowed, as well as numerous particles of grit. 



The note is a clear whistling Tll'd ; but during the 

 courting-season the male utters a prolonged Taludl-taliull- 

 taludl-tahidl. During migration the cry of flocks passing 

 overhead at night may often be heard over large towns, and 

 of this Mr. Stevenson (B. of Norfolk, ii. p. 70) gives some 

 remarkable experiences. 



In autumn the various broods associate, forming flocks, 

 and descend from the moors to the lowlands and sea-shores. 

 According to Mr. Cordeaux the rule of migration upon the 

 East coast is, a few old black-breasted birds early in 

 August : often in company with Lapwings ; followed by flocks 

 of young birds in September and early October ; and late 

 in October, and in November, immense flights of old birds. 

 Later in the year, any sharp, cold weather drives the flocks 

 to the south and west, but during the early part of the 

 season their line of migration is often unaccountably erratic. 

 On the evening of the 22nd August, 1880, Major P. K. 

 Seddon, when in his yacht at Spurn, saw thousands of 

 Golden Plover passing iiortJt, along the sea-shore in detached 

 flocks. In the following year, on the Gth September, Mr. 

 W. Eagle Clarke saw a long waved line, extending at least 

 three or four miles, passing over Spurn, and extending far 

 over towards the Lincolnshire coast, with direction to the 

 north. It is difficult to surmise whence these large flights 

 started. In 1882 young Golden Plovers commenced cross- 



