48 TUANSACTIONS, NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF GLASGOW. 



Golden Plover (Charadrius plavialls). 

 Breeds abundantly on nearly all of the hills and much of the 

 lower ground adjacent thereto. Some seasons they will remain 

 in their breeding places till far on in the autumn, and I have 

 noted flocks on Queensberry in mid-November in mild weather. 

 One of the pleasantest sounds of returning spring is the plaintive 

 whistle of the Golden Plover falling down from the heavens 

 when a migration rush is coming on. Long after our own 

 Golden Plover are engaged in nesting duties, I have recognised 

 the notes of the same species going northwards at night in 

 company with Knots and others so far on as the end of April 

 and till mid-May. Where these birds wei-e going to is one of 

 the puzzles presented to the student of migration. 



Grey Plover ( Squatarola helvetica). 



A rather scarce bird on the Solway, but once its favourite 

 spots are known it is not difficult to make its acquaintance. It 

 is irregular in its numbers, some years bringing very few. It 

 has some affinity to the Bar-tailed Godwits in its choice of 

 feeding grounds, and may often be found in their company. 



Sir William Jardine records having shot a pair of Grey Plover* 

 so early as August at one of the Lochmaben lochs. 



Lapwing ( Vanellus vulyaris). 



Perhaps not so abundant as it used to be a generation or two 

 ago, but still vastly numerous and breeding everywhere. At 

 the autumn migration it never goes past in the same vast 

 numbers as I remember in the sixties, but sufficient still to make 

 it one of the most conspicuous migrants we have. 



By the last week in March we find many eggs, and by a little 

 measure of restriction — with which I am proud to know I had 

 something to do — eggs can be taken up till 15th April, and no 

 longer. May I direct your attention to a little point in the 

 life history of the Lapwing which I made known a good many 

 years ago, but, so far as I am aware, the observation has not 

 been confirmed by others? One day at the end of May, 1892, 

 while passing along a road in Southwick, a Lapwing flew over 

 my head holding betwixt its legs, pressed up against its abdomen, 

 with its tail at the same time much depressed, what I have 



