204 OEDICNEMIM; 



discernible. As I endeavoured to draw closer it rose, and 

 flying off, startled the flock of Golden Plover which then 

 joined it on the wing. 



Sometimes, however, the Great Plover is easily ap- 

 proached and will run rather than fly when pursued. 



Though essentially a summer-migrant, arriving about 

 April and departing in October, yet several stragglers have 

 been known to remain until December or January, 

 especially in Cornwall, and, to a less extent, in other parts 

 of the south of England. A few of these birds may have 

 crossed over to the east side of Ireland, and this would 

 account for their appearance in that country in midwinter. 



Voice. The voice is rather whistling in character, and is 

 best heard on moon-lit nights ; during the day this species 

 is, as a rule, silent. 



Food. The Great Plover feeds chiefly on nocturnal 

 beetles, captured during and after dusk. In the gizzard of 

 an immature bird, taken at Retford on October 10th, 1904, 

 and sent me by the Rev. Julian Tuck, I found quantities of 

 ear- wigs' forceps ; the rest of the insects having been nearly 

 digested. I also found pebbles 4 mm. in size and green 

 vegetable-matter present. Various species of small reptiles, 

 frogs, small mammals, worms and slugs, are also eaten. 



Nest. This bird forms its nesting-place by scraping a 

 hollow in sandy soil, or among loose stones or shingle. The 

 eggs, two in number, are light brown, spotted and streaked 

 with grey, dark brown, and several intermediate shades. 



In addition to the counties of South-eastern England, 

 where this species breeds, the nest has been found in the 

 Midlands, Worcestershire, Lincolnshire and East York- 

 shire; but west of Hereford the bird is almost unknown 

 (Saunders). 



Geographical distribution. Abroad, the Great Plover 

 breeds in Temperate Europe and Asia, while in Southern 

 Europe and in Northern Africa it is resident to a large 

 extent. Further south it can be traced to India and 

 Ceylon. 



DESCRIPTIVE CHARACTERS. 



PLUMAGE. Adult male nuptial. Top of head, back of 

 neck, back, scapulars, wings, and rump, light brown, with 

 darker streaks ; across the wings are two thin white bars ; 

 primaries, dark brownish-black; tail, tipped with black, 

 and barred above with greyish-white, light and dark brown ; 



