89 



piper was also often seen during summer, it breeding at the burn 

 sides in the immediate vicinity. 



The times when most wild fowl came were, of course, during 

 floods in open weather; but in consequence of the shallowness 

 of the water it soon froze over, when all the birds disappeared, 

 but on a thaw coming, and BO soon as there was water at the 

 edges of the ice, the Mallards and "Wigeon returned. 



During floods, also in autumn and winter, in open weather, 

 there were often acres of Pewits and Golden Plovers ; but, with- 

 out apparent reason, sometimes tinder similar circumstances there 

 were none. In February, 1852, I have a note, that probably in 

 consequence of the very open winter, some thousands of these 

 birds made the small islandsleft uncovered by water look quite 

 black. Probably they assemble to feed on the worms and other 

 insects drowned out by the floods. 



Although Golden Plovers never bred at the Car, I have shot 

 them there in full summer plumage as late as the 21st of April, 

 at which time some would have eggs on the moors : these late 

 flocks would be probably migrating further north to breed, and 

 I find also I have seen them considerably advanced towards their 

 summer plumage as early as the 21st February . 



Early in July, even on the first of the month, I have seen vast 

 numbers of Golden Plovers, both old and young, which came 

 most likely from the hills further inland, where they^bred, and 

 sit in the low fallow fields on the Berwick Hill Estate, and 

 which was only an easy flight from their breeding grounds. 



I have seen hundreds sitting with their heads to the wind. 

 During a great portion of the day, they often sit motionless rest- 

 ing on the ground, except when one or two raise one wing or 

 both straight up as if stretching themselves. You might some- 

 times with two or more guns divert their attention and get them 

 between them, so that on their rising one would get a shot and 

 thus get a few. At this season the old birds are moulting, and 

 soon after this the young are moulting also, the old birds under- 

 going their regular complete autumnal moult, when they loose 

 their black breasts and also change all their quills and tail fea- 



