GEEAT PLOVEK 



203 



Zoo- 



Wexford: One, early in December, 1844 (Poole, 

 logist/1845). 



Waterford : One, March 1st, 1840 (Thompson). 



Antrim : One near Belfast (Ussher, ' Birds of Ireland ') ; 

 this specimen is preserved in the Belfast Museum. 



Clare : A specimen said to have been shot in this county 

 in the autumn of 1844 ; the evidence of this record rests on 

 a somewhat shaky basis (Ussher, ' Birds of Ireland,' p. 249, 

 also Watters, ' Birds of Ireland,' p. 172). 



FIG. 27. GREAT PLOVER. 



It may be seen from the above that there have been 

 several occurrences in winter. To these I may add the 

 following note : On December 10th, 1900, while I was 

 engaged watching the movements of a great flock of Golden 

 Plover, my attention was attracted by a larger and lighter- 

 coloured bird, which was standing at the edge of the flock. 

 The bird, undoubtedly a Great Plover, appeared very wild, 

 and was anxiously watching my advances. As I viewed it 

 with a field-glass at a distance of some two hundred yards, 

 its immense and prominent orange-coloured eyes were plainly 



