62 FAUNA OF NORTH WALES 



On 1st May, 1911, Mr. Cummings watched a sitting Peewit 

 at Caerwys protect its eggs against a sheep which was walking 

 up to the nest. As the sheep approached the bird left the eggs 

 and sprang up at its nose repeatedly, uttering a continuous 

 crying noise all the time. So persistent was the attack that 

 the sheep was brought to a standstill. The eggs were near 

 hatching, which would account for the bird's behaviour. 



188. — ^TURNSTONE. Arenaria interpres interpres (L.). 



Not uncommon on the west coast in autumn and spring, some remaining 

 through the summer ; rarer on the north coast. 



Ray observed small parties on the Merioneth coast. Turn- 

 stones occur on the coasts in every month of the year ; records 

 are so numerous that they need not be given here in detail. 



189.— OYSTER CATCHER, Hcematopvs osiralegtis ostralegus 



L. 



Resident, common on the coasts ; flocks in winter ; very rare inland. 



On the Dee estuarj^ according to ^Ir. Coward, the Oyster- 

 catcher is most abundant as a bird of passage in spring and 

 autunm. (F. Fauna, Cheshire, I., 387.) The following incident 

 tends to show that this species is sometimes double-brooded. 

 Mr. C. Oldham found a nest \nth three eggs hatching at Point of 

 Air, 31st July, 1915. On 6th August, 1914, Mx. S. G. Cummings 

 caught a half -fledged young one, unable to fly, in Carnarvon Bay. 

 When first seen it was in the water, but ran ashore into the sand- 

 hills at great speed. On 13th June, 1918, he found a nest with 

 three eggs close to the cliff walk at Moclfre, over 100 feet above 

 fica level, 



190. — ^AVOCET. Recurvirostra avosetia L. 

 Said to have occurred in Anglesey and Merioneth. 



191.— BLACK-WINGED STILT. Himantopvs himantopus (L.). 

 Recorded in Anglesey. 



192.— GREY PHALAROPE. Phalaropus fulicarius (L). 



Occasional visitor, not uncommon ; occurs chiefly on autumn passage. 



One obtained at West Kirby, Cheshire, 5th November, 1880, is 

 recorded in the Field, 1880, 715, whUst another on Hilbre Island 



