GOLDEN TLOVER. 209 



very numerous on the sea-shore. A few pah's may be 

 found each summer frequenting ahnost all the hills on 

 the Yorkshire border, from Blackstone Edge to Pendle, 

 and on some parts of the Bleasdale and adjoining fells 

 it is comparatively abundant. Mr. -John Weld says that 

 it appears in flocks of 20 or 30 in the low lands about 

 Leagram Hall the middle or end of March, and that by 

 the middle of April these leave for the neighbouring 

 moors. It used, indeed, according to the Mss. of the 

 late Eev. J. D. Banister, to breed on Pilling Moss, but 

 those notes were written some forty years ago, and it 

 certainly does not do so now. Inland it frequents the 

 valleys in hard weather, flocking with Lapwings, and 

 with them appearing on the coast by thousands should 

 the frosts continue. These large flocks consist mostly, 

 of course, of migrants from the north, and Mr. T. 

 Jackson writes me that in 1881, on the 3rd, 4th, and 

 5th of March, immense numbers (and of Wigeon also) 

 were packed on the shores of the Lune ready for 

 departure, and waiting for the end of a terrific gale 

 which was then blowing from the south-east. In autumn 

 Golden Plover do not usually come in any numljers until 

 October. The eggs are four in number, and are laid 

 about the 1st of May ; a nest I found on Pendle Hill 

 on tlie 10th May, 1879, consisted of a rather deep and 

 neatly-rounded hollow, the bottom being covered with 

 about half a handful of dry bents ; the position being 

 a rather bare, grassy place, several yards from any 

 heather, and with a good look-out over the neighbouring 

 ground. The old bird flew away, with just one whistle 

 when she had got about twenty yards from the nest, and 

 did not re-appear, though I heard her whistling in the 

 distance for nearly half an hour ; even then being very 

 shy, and flying a long way off when I moved towards 



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