66 BIEDS OF NORFOLK. 



This bird came into the possession of the late Mr. 

 James Sparham, of Blakeney, who presented it to Mr. 

 Henry Rogers, then residing at Thetford. Some few 

 years later, on Mr. Rogers leaving England, this pratin- 

 cole passed into the hands of the late Mrs. Flower, of 

 Feltwell, and is now in Mr. Newcome's collection at 

 Feltwell Hall. 



CHARADRIUS PLUVIALIS, Linnseus. 

 GOLDEN PLOVER. 



The Golden or " Whistling " Plover, as it is locally 

 termed, is a regular autumnal visitant, but varies as 

 much in numbers, according to the season, as in the 

 time of its arrival. Pretty generally distributed through- 

 out the county, it is met with in flocks of more or less 

 extent, throughout the winter months, except during 

 periods of extremely severe weather,* when, like other 

 kindred species, it passes southwards, for a time, to 

 return again with the earliest change to a more genial 

 temperature.f At such times, after the breaking up of 



* Mr. Cordeaux, in his " Ornithological notes" from North 

 Lincolnshire ("Zoologist.," 1867, p. 690), refers to the partial 

 migrations of this species during sharp weather. In the first 

 week of January, 1867, he says, during a sharp frost, " not one was 

 left in those places where a few days previously they had congre- 

 gated in thousands." On the 23rd, however, a rapid thaw com- 

 menced ; and on the 24th, when the marshes were once more clear 

 of snow, " considerable flocks of golden plover had returned to 

 their old haunts." 



f Mr. Lubbock gives a remarkable instance of the " weather 

 wise" instinct of this species, so appropriately termed plumalis on 

 that account. The extraordinary restlessness of several flocks of 

 plover and lapwings in the marshes, so impressed him on one 



