THE GOLDEN PLOVER 201 



graceful evolutions. These birds are sometimes caught in 

 the flight-nets on the coast, and are much sought after by the 

 shore-shooter, for their flesh is highly prized as an article of 

 food. I sometimes think that many of the Golden Plovers 

 that breed on our moors go far to the south in winter, and 

 that most of the birds we see on the coast at that season are 

 from the high north. Migrating flocks of these birds cross 

 country in flying south in autumn, instead of passing along 

 the coast, and return, as I have sometimes seen them on the 

 southern downs, flying due north in spring. 



