i;8 THE FOWLER IN IRELAND. 



high before firing four or five feet from the ground 

 at most. The circle of shot will then take those on 

 the wing, those in the act of rising, and any standing 

 as well. Large numbers of birds that have been 

 closely huddled on the ground soon open out when 

 sprung, for mutual freedom of flight. They then, 

 perhaps, still offer a good shot for some distance, 

 though not the best, which is what one should strive 

 for a lesson only learnt by repeated failure. 



Plover and Dunlin, especially the latter, open out 

 less than other shore birds ; they fly with almost 

 mathematical accuracy, each wing seems to meet 

 and just touch that of its neighbour ; when turning 

 the change is as one bird, or a regiment facing to 

 word of command. The instant variations of colour 

 these birds go through are beautiful, the gleaming 

 silver white, then the black, as their dark upper 

 surface is towards the spectator, all the work of a 

 moment ; against a dark background they may be 

 showing in vivid relief like glittering spray, the 

 next instant as the faint shadow of a cloud, and the 

 noise of many thousand Dunlin as they rush past is 

 as a storm of wind through the bare trees of the 

 forest in winter. 



Golden Plover may be seen in large numbers on 

 the wet meadows and uplands of Ireland, especially 

 on the soft green pastures bordering freshwater lakes, 

 and which frequent floods make so acceptable to them. 

 This bird is really an inland species, but is driven to 

 the coast by hard weather, and should the frost con- 

 tinue, they vanish for the winter to southern lati- 

 tudes. About the end of October, or first week in 

 November, Golden Plover congregate in immense 



