392 charadridtE. 



every other coast bird. When a party either go towards 

 the shore, or leave it for the meadows and flat wastes, 

 they unanimously keep together ; but when alighting, they 

 mix with every other species, and thus produce a motley 

 group." They fly in flocks, varying from five to twenty or 

 more, keeping in a line, more or less curved, or in two 

 lines forming an angle. Their flight is strong and rapid, 

 rarely direct, but sweeping in wide semicircles. As they 

 advance they alternately show their upper and under 

 plumage, but more frequently the latter ; for they gene- 

 rally keep at a height of sixty or a hundred yards from 

 the ground, in this respect differing from Einged Plovers, 

 Dunlins, &c. Occasionally one or two of the flock utter 

 a loud whistle, which seems to be a signal for all to keep 

 close order. Just as Starlings habitually alight wherever 

 they see Kcoks or Gulls feeding, so the Grey Plovers join 

 themselves on to any society of birds which has detected 

 a good hunting-ground. During a single walk along the 

 sands I have observed them mixed up with Dunlins, Knots, 

 Gulls, Eedshanks, and Royston Crows; but in no instance 

 was I able to approach near enough to note their habit 

 of feeding. They were always up and away before any 

 other bird saw danger impending. In autumn they are 

 less shy. 



The people on the coast describe the Grey Plover as 

 the shyest of all the Waders, and could give me no 

 information as to its habits ; but Meyer, whose descrip- 

 tion of this bird is very accurate in other respects, states 

 that " its general appearance is peculiar to itself ; it walks 

 about on the ground slowly and with grace, and stops every. 

 now and then to pick up its food ; it carries its body in 

 a horizontal position on straight legs, and its head very 

 close to its body, consequently increasing the thick appear- 

 ance of the head." 



The Grey Plover breeds in high latitudes, making a 

 slight hollow in the ground, and employing a few blades 



