72 BIRDS OF LOCH AND MOUNTAIN 



off their eggs at the least sign of danger, but 

 rarely fly away. 



The Golden Plover make use of three distinct 

 notes. The one most frequently heard is its long- 

 drawn " Tu-ee," sometimes varied by " Twee." These 

 seem to be used principally as alarm notes. Another 

 note used is one of exceptional sadness ; it is some- 

 times uttered on the wing, and is not, I think, an 

 alarm note. It sounds something like " Whew- 

 wheoo." When in flocks, and also during the nest- 

 ing season, the Golden Plover uses a sort of purring 

 note, something resembling that of the Dotterel, 

 and sounding like " Trueoo, trueoo, trueoo." 



The male Golden Plover usually stands on some 

 prominent rock or knoll, commanding a wide out- 

 look, and when he catches sight of the intruder, 

 utters his melancholy whistle " Tuee, tree." Then 

 he runs along in front as fast as he can, and 

 after a little while takes wing. On hearing his 

 alarm note, the hen slips off the eggs and 

 joins her mate at some distance from the nest. 

 Sometimes, however, she disregards her mate's 

 cry, hoping to escape detection by her protective 

 colouring. 



Towards the end of May I was near the summit 

 of a mountain 3,000 feet high. There was a thick 

 mist near the top, but I thought I would attempt 

 to reach the cairn. All at once I came upon a 

 Golden Plover covering her eggs. She was exception- 

 ally confiding, and sat quite still, while I was watch- 

 ing her not five feet off. The gold feathers on her 

 back made her a fairly prominent object against 

 the dark surroundings. What a chance it would 

 have been if only I had had my camera with me ! 

 But unluckily all I had was a field glass, so I built 



