80 BRITISH, SEA “BIRDS, 
of the Wash—that vast area of mud, and sand, 
and salt-marsh, which extends for miles in drear 
monotony, only enlivened and made endurable by 
the hordes of wild fowl that congregate upon its 
treacherous surface. Here, at the end of October, 
or during the first week in November, the migration 
of the Golden Plover can be observed in all its 
strength. Day after day, night after night, I 
have remarked the passage of this bird, in almost 
one unbroken stream, flock succeeding flock, so 
quickly as to form a nearly continuous throng. 
Upon the sands this Plover often associates with 
Dunlins, Gray Plovers, Lapwings, and other waders. 
Great numbers are, or used to be, shot or netted in 
this district, and sent to inland markets, for their 
flesh is justly esteemed for its delicacy, ranked by 
some as second only to that of the Woodcock. 
Golden Plovers feed and move about a good deal 
at night, especially by moonlight. Their food, 
during winter at least, consists of sand-worms and 
hoppers, molluscs, small seeds, and so on. The 
whistle of this Plover is one of the most attractive 
sounds of the mud-flats and salt-marshes. It may, 
under suitable atmospheric conditions, be heard for 
a long distance across the wastes, and sounds 
something like 4/ec-qwee, occasionally prolonged into 
klce-ee-wee. This note is uttered both while the 
bird is on the ground and in the air.” {]mjyime 
pairing season it is run out into a trill. The 
movements of the Golden Plover during winter 
