26



Mr. P. W. Farmborough,



Early in June the bird commenced to moult, and at the

present time (Sept. 30th) it is practically completed, the quills

on the forehead and sides of the head alone remaining. Mr.

Harper wrote me that the bird was in song ; he was evidently

just going off, previous to moulting, when he arrived. He has,

at the present time, just started recording again. His initial

efforts resemble the warble of the male Red-backed Shrike, aud

some of his call notes are very similar to the English Robin ;

but it is too early to write much about his vocal abilities at

present.


I11 any case his extreme rarity aud brilliancy of plumage

make him a very interesting aud welcome addition to the aviary.



ON THE RINGED PLOVER AS AN AVIARY BIRD.


By" P. W. Farmborough, F.Z.S., F.E.S.


Once a y'ear, at least, I spend some time at Sandwich,

Kent; where, as much as my opportunities permit me, I employ

my time in studying the fauna of the district; although

principally' my attention is devoted to mammalian life, I often

for a change have a day with the birds of the district, with the

result, usually, that the one day only I originally intended to

have extends into several.


A very' favourite hunting-ground of mine (both ornitho-

logically and entomologically) is that stretch of land bordering

the sea shore about three miles from the town of Deal. No doubt

many of the members of the Avicultural Society'—certainly' the

golfing members—will best know the district I mean when I

state that it is in the immediate vicinity of the St. George’s Golf-

links and on the seaward side of the famous links. Some of our

readers will remember that, in the fourth volume of the Society’s

magazine, I gave some experiences of the Grasshopper Warbler

obtained there. On this occasion I have to deal with the Ringed

Plover.


East summer whilst walking in a contrary direction to the

one usually taken towards Deal, viz., towards the mouth of the



