38 BRITISH BIRDS. 



try by many a clever artifice to lure the intruder away from their treasured 

 eggs or young. The males often allow a near approach as they stand like 

 watchful sentinels on the heath or grass-tufts, merely running on a little 

 distance, or they take wing with a mournful note, to wheel round and 

 round, or swoop down again to the ground to stand and watch as before. 

 The warning note soon brings the female upon the scene. Unnoticed she 

 quietly slips off her eggs and leaves them to the safety that their protective 

 colour insures. If they have young they are often even more demonstra- 

 tive, and try by reeling and tumbling along the ground to concentrate 

 all attention upon themselves. At the least alarm the downy little 

 young ones scurry off in all directions, and crouch low and motionless 

 amongst the heather and moss, where it is very difficult to find them, so 

 closely does the colour of their down harmonize with the surrounding 

 tints. The female is ever closely attended by the male, and on one 

 occasion a male bird was shot from the eggs. The young run as soon 

 as they are hatched, and are carefully tended by their parents for several 

 weeks. Only one brood is reared in the season ; but if the first eggs are 

 destroyed others are usually laid. 



As soon as the young are able to fly, the Golden Plovers collect into 

 large flocks for the winter, although they do not quit the moors until the 

 weather becomes inclement. During winter these flocks frequent the 

 marshes and coasts, feeding either on the pastures near the sea or on the 

 tide-washed mud-flats. During dark nights they leave the coast and 

 generally betake themselves to the adjoining pastures or higher land, 

 returning at daybreak. The flocks that congregate at this season are 

 often of immense size, containing many thousands of birds. If shot at 

 they often swoop to the ground with great rapidity, then rise again, 

 often tarrying to hover above their fallen comrades and sing their dirge 

 with their melancholy note. Most of the Golden Plovers that frequent 

 the English coasts in autumn and winter are migrants from Northern 

 Europe. Vast numbers pass Heligoland every year on their way south 

 from their breeding-grounds on the fjelds and tundras — some to cross the 

 German Ocean and winter on our coasts, others to pass south along the 

 European coast-line to Spain and thence to Africa. On the east coast 

 of England the numbers of Golden Plover that arrive are almost incre- 

 dible. Towards the end of October and early in November they are often 

 seen flying down coast for days together, flock succeeding flock as the 

 grand army of migrants i)ass on. Golden Plover often congregate with 

 other wild fowl, especially with Curlews, Dunlins, and Lapwings. Their 

 flesh is highly prized as an article of food, and consequently the poor birds 

 are harassed incessantly by the coast-gunners. The Golden Plover becomes 

 very restless at the approach of stormy weather, and usually retires inland 

 before the storm arrives. 



