GRALLATORES. 143 



Whether this may be taken as an invariable rule or 

 not, I must leave it to others to determine ; but it is a 

 remarkable fact that in this county, where there is but 

 little chalk, the Stone Curlew is a very scarce bird. 

 I know of one instance only in which it has occurred 

 in Middlesex. This was a male bird, which was 

 shot towards the end of April, 1848, in a fallow 

 field near Bushey Heath, and was taken for pre- 

 servation to Mr. Spencer, of Great Portland Street, 

 from whom I received a notice of the fact. 



GOLDEN PLOVER, Charadnus pluvialis. Visits 

 us in flocks towards the end of autumn, and is, 

 perhaps, most numerous about the end of November. 

 At this time I am pretty sure of finding a flock upon 

 some fallows between Kingsbury and Stanmore. 

 On the 23rd November, 1861, 1 computed that there 

 were nearly two hundred birds in a flock which I 

 saw there. I have frequently noticed this species 

 feeding in company with Fieldfares and Starlings, 

 but independently of its size the Golden Plover 

 may always be distinguished when on the ground at 

 a distance, by its peculiar motion ; running with short 

 quick steps, and stopping abruptly ; now and then 

 dipping down the head to seize a worm, and ele- 

 vating the tail considerably ; while ever and anon 

 its clear plaintive whistle falls pleasantly upon the 

 ear. When walking over the Cheviots in the 

 breeding season, the whistle of the Golden Plover 

 seemed unceasing, and proceeded from the birds 



