408 BANFFSHIRE FAUNA. APPENDIX. 



higher grounds as to where this species breeds, he replied, 

 " On the gray slopes of the highest mountains, far above all the 

 other birds, except the ptarmigan." I am doubtful whether it 

 breeds with us at all. 



CHARADRIUS HIATICULA [Ringed Plover]. 



These breed with us, and remain all the year round. I have found 

 their eggs on the sand by the beach, and forty miles inland. 

 They likewise nestle on the shingly banks and islands along our 

 river-courses. They are known here by the names of "sea 

 lark" and " sanny Hverock." 



VANELLUS MELANOGASTER [Gray Plover]. 



Rather rare, and I believe only a winter visitor. 



VANELLTJS CRISTATUS [Lapwing]. 



Found on heaths and moors, and in fields, where they breed. 

 Many of them leave us towards winter. This is another species 

 which endeavours to mislead you when searching for its eggs. 

 Of all our field and heath birds, the lapwing is one of the most 

 useful in destroying destructive insects, such as Zabrus 

 gibbus, etc. 



STREPSILAS INTERPRES [Turnstone']. 



An occasional visitor, generally in winter. (See p. 242.) 



CALIDRIS ARENARIA [Sanderling]. 



A regular visitor, generally arriving in August, a few of them 

 remaining through the winter. I have met with them, too, in 

 summer, when their predominant colour, instead of being 

 whitish, is a most beautiful reddish fawn. On their first 

 arrival here they are very tame, allowing you to approach 

 within a yard or two. (See p. 175.) 



H^MAT'OPUS OSTRALEGUS [Oystercatcher]. 



Why this bird is called oystercatcher, I cannot understand. Had 

 it been named " limpetcatcher " I could have understood it. I 

 have crawled amongst the rocks in order to see them feed ; when 

 I have seen the limpet driven from its hold, and scooped out of 

 its shell with as much apparent ease as I could have picked up 

 a Gammaris locusta ; but I have never seen it attempt to catch 

 an oyster. On this part of the coast its food generally consists 

 of the limpet, and very rarely of Acmcea testitudinalis. I have 

 counted as many as forty-one of the former in the stomach of a 

 single bird, whilst of the latter I have not met with more than 

 three or four examples. The oystercatcher is a summer visitor 

 with us, arriving here to breed. Now and then it may be seen 

 during winter. Large flocks visit us some seasons, generally in 

 September, and after remaining for a day proceed farther south. 

 "Sea piet " is the name the bird is known by here. 



ARDEA CINEREA [Heron], 



We have some small spots where these birds breed, but which 

 hardly deserve the name of heronries. At one time, however, 



