232 CHARADRIIDAI 
winter-plumage follow in October. These are preceded, 
early in August, by a few birds still retaining part of 
their nuptial dress.1_ As winter approaches some of the 
birds journey to more southern climes; many, however, 
linger on our coasts until spring, and have been observed 
passing northward as late as the month of June. 
Along the eastern sea-board of Great Britain the Grey 
Plover becomes more abundant; it is altogether rarer in 
Ireland than in England. It visited the former country 
in large numbers in the year 1887, when many were seen 
on the west coast by Mr. Warren, who writes :—“ Late in 
September and early in October they were to be seen every- 
where about the shores of the estuary, in all the little bays 
and in places where I never saw one before; from their 
ereat tameness they were evidently young birds, for they 
took no notice of my punt, often allowing me to get within 
fifteen and twenty yards” (‘ Birds of Ireland,’ p. 256). 
With reference to the tameness of immature birds I may 
add that on October 22nd, 1900, I nearly walked over a pair 
of these Plovers as they rested on the wet grass which 
skirts the mud-flats of Dublin Bay. I watched them for 
many minutes at less than ten yards’ distance. Finding 
them so very tame I made an attempt to cover them with 
my cap, as a school-boy would a butterfly, but in this 
procedure I need hardly say that I was unsuccessful. As 
they rose and flew up wind, I could see that they were 
strong on the wing and therefore not in any way disabled. 
No doubt they had only just arrived and were suffering 
from migratory fatigue. Later in the season this species 
becomes shy and restless, and can seldom be approached 
within range of the gun. 
The Grey Plover delights to rest on grassy knolls washed 
by the flowing tide; at ebb, the ooze and sand-flats may be 
seen studded here and there with this species, busily search- 
ing for food. In its movements on foot it resembles its 
congeners. I have seen small parties, in company with 
Turnstones, running about after dusk in search of food 
on the dry sands. At my approach they trotted in front 
' On August 28th, 1898, the late Mr. E. Williams saw a Grey Plover 
on the North Bull, Dublin Bay, in full nuptial-plumage. Specimens 
have been obtained from the same locality exhibiting a transition 
plumage between winter and nuptial, many black feathers being still 
visible. 
