232 CHAKADKIID^E 



winter-plumage follow in October. These are preceded, 

 early in August, by a few birds still retaining part of 

 their nuptial dress. 1 As winter approaches some of the 

 birds journey to more southern climes ; many, however, 

 linger on our coasts until spring, and have been observed 

 passing northward as late as the month of June. 



Along the eastern sea-board of Great Britain the Grey 

 Plover becomes more abundant ; it is altogether rarer in 

 Ireland than in England. It visited the former country 

 in large numbers in the year 1887, when many were seen 

 on the west coast by Mr. Warren, who writes: "Late in 

 September and early in October they were to be seen every- 

 where about the shores of the estuary, in all the little bays 

 and in places where I never saw one before ; from their 

 great tameness they were evidently young birds, for they 

 took no notice of my punt, often allowing me to get within 

 fifteen and twenty yards" (' Birds of Ireland,' p. 256). 



With reference to the tameness of immature birds I may 

 add that on October 22nd, 1900, I nearly walked over a pair 

 of these Plovers as they rested on the wet grass which 

 skirts the mud-flats of Dublin Bay. I watched them for 

 many minutes at less than ten yards' distance. Finding 

 them so very tame I made an attempt to cover them with 

 my cap, as a school-boy would a butterfly, but in this 

 procedure I need hardly say that I was unsuccessful. As 

 they rose and flew up wind, I could see that they were 

 strong on the wing and therefore not in any way disabled. 

 No doubt they had only just arrived and were suffering 

 from migratory fatigue. Later in the season this species 

 becomes shy and restless, and can seldom be approached 

 within range of the gun. 



The Grey Plover delights to rest on grassy knolls washed 

 by the flowing tide ; at ebb, the ooze and sand-flats may be 

 seen studded here and there with this species, busily search- 

 ing for food. In its movements on foot it resembles its 

 congeners. I have seen small parties, in company with 

 Turnstones, running about after dusk in search of food 

 on the dry sands. At my approach they trotted in front 



1 On August 28th, 1898, the late Mr. E. Williams saw a Grey Plover 

 on the North Bull, Dublin Bay, in full nuptial-plumage. Specimens 

 have been obtained from the same locality exhibiting a transition 

 plumage between winter and nuptial, many black feathers being still 

 visible. 



