53 
ground between Beaumont and Burgh Marsh for the last two 
years. The Whimbrel (Z: preopus), similar in everything but size, 
now and again appears, mostly in the spring; but it has been shot 
in the autumn on Rockliffe Marsh. - Ruff and Reeves (AZ. pugnax) 
are seen every year. We have record of six shot on Rockliffe 
Marsh last autumn, all birds of the year. The Bartailed Godwit 
(Z. dapponica), though more plentiful lower down the Solway, has 
been got on both marshes. 
The Oyster-catcher (H. ostralegus), or “Sea-Piet,” as it is com- 
_ monly known with us, occurs in large flocks during the autumn 
and winter, a few pairs staying on Rockliffe Marsh to breed. They 
‘remain in flocks until April, when they disperse in pairs ; and by 
the beginning of May a few nests are always to be found. The 
nests on Rockliffe Marsh are slight saucer-like hollows in the 
"grass, generally at a short distance from the water. I have never 
4 found one among the pebbles, nor yet on the bare sand, which I 
believe is the ordinary nesting place of the Oyster-catcher. The 
_ eggs are three in number, but sometimes four are found. 
The Lapwing (Vanellus vnigaris) breeds in vast numbers on our 
“marshes ; but as it must be so well known to you all, it is not 
4 necessary to give a detailed account of this bird. The Golden 
_ Plover (Charadrius pluvialis) is with us during the autumn and 
winter. The same remark applies to the Grey Plover (S. helvetica), 
though it is of much rarer occurrence than the last named.* Although 
the Ringed Plover (4gitalis hiaticula) used formerly to breed on 
both marshes, I have never found a nest there; but I have found 
the birds as far up the river as Stainton gravel-bed. For the last 
three or four years one pair—and on one occasion two pairs—have 
hatched their clutches safely, except last year, when they were 
carried away by a flood. They formed another nest, but theit 
eggs were unfortunately trodden on by a fisherman. 
_ The Dotterel (Z. morineflus) makes its appearance on our marshes 
(or perhaps I ought to say used to do so) early in May, in small flocks, 
* i.e. ‘‘ Rarer” on the upper Solway marshes, which it only visits when the 
tides are very high. But many Grey Plover frequent the coast line from Port 
Carlisle to Maryport in autumn, their numbers varying in different years, —M, 
