THE GREY PLOVER 243 



the continent of Europe, and North America. In this country, as 

 I have observed, it occurs from autumn to spring, frequenting the 

 seashore, and picking up worms and other animal productions cast 

 up by the sea. Grey Plovers are less abundant than Golden 

 Plovers ; yet, in severe seasons they assemble in numerous small 

 flocks on the shores of the eastern counties, and, as Meyer well 

 observes, they are disposed to be " sociable, not only towards their 

 own species, but to every other coast bird. When a party either 

 go towards the shore, or leave it for the meadows and flat wastes, 

 they unanimously keep together ; but when alighting, they mix 

 with every other species, and thus produce a motley group." They 

 fly in flocks, varying from five to twenty or more, keeping in a line, 

 more or less curved, or in two lines forming an angle. Their flight 

 is strong and rapid, rarely direct, but sweeping in wide semicircles. 

 As they advance they alternately show their upper and under 

 plumage, but more frequently the latter ; for they generally keep at 

 a height of sixty or a hundred yards from the ground, in this respect 

 differing from Ringed Plovers, Dunlins, etc. Occasionally one or 

 two of the flock utter a loud whistle, which seems to be a signal for 

 all to keep close order. Just as Starlings habitually alight wherever 

 they see Rooks or Gulls feeding, so the Grey Plovers join themselves 

 on to any society of birds which has detected a good hunting-ground. 

 During a single walk along the sands I have observed them mixed 

 up with Dunlins, Knots, Gulls, Redshanks, and Royston Crows ; 

 but in no instance was I able to approach near enough to note their 

 habit of feeding. They were always up and away before any other 

 birds saw danger impending. In autumn they are less shy. 



The people on the coast describe the Grey Plover as the shyest 

 of all the Waders, and could give me no information as to its habits ; 

 but Meyer, whose description of this bird is very accurate in other 

 respects, states that " its general appearance is peculiar to itself ; 

 it walks about on the ground slowly and with grace, and stops every 

 now and then to pick up its food ; it carries its body in a horizontal 

 position on straight legs, and its head very close to its body, conse- 

 quently increasing the thick appearance of the head." 



The Grey Plover breeds in high latitudes, making a slight hollow 

 in the ground, and employing a few blades of grass. It lays four 

 eggs, on which it sits so closely that it will almost be trodden on. 

 When thus disturbed its ways remind one of the Ringed Plover. 



