146 LLOVDS NATURAL HISTORY. 



seems to me to be a very efficient rendering of the bird's voice 

 on paper. It is a note somewhat easy to imitate, and I have 

 seen a whole flock of birds lured to their death in Heligo- 

 land by a skilful repetition of the cry. It can be heard a long 

 way off, and as most of the Heligolanders work in the potato- 

 fields with a gun lying close handy, on the look out for any 

 migrating birds, be they Plover or Hooded Crows, the familiar 

 note of the Golden Plover cut at sea is the signal for a score 

 of answering whistles from the rock ; and very soon the un- 

 suspecting flock is seen, like a little cloud skimming over 

 the waves, heading straight for the rocky island. In a few 

 seconds they are overhead, in a few more seconds they have 

 passed on and far out to sea, leaving a tribute of some of 

 their number. The whistling re-doubles, and once more the 

 flock turns in its course and makes for the island, only to 

 meet with the same hot reception; and these manoeuvres 

 are repeated till but a small remnant escapes. On Sandy 

 Island, about a mile and a half from Heligoland, where the 

 " bathing guests " flock from all parts of Germany, I have seen 

 the Golden Plovers running about quite tame, within twenty 

 yards of me, as if they knew that no gun was allowed to be fired 

 before 2 p.m. During the afternoons, however, when we landed, 

 intent on collecting, they soon became more shy. 



Even in the breeding-season the Golden Plover may be found 

 in small parties, while in the winter large flocks collect together, 

 and at that time of year they are often met with inland on the 

 open lands and fallow ground, searching for worms and grubs, 

 while on the shore various small marine animals form the staple 

 diet of the birds. 



Mr. Seebohm observes : " The Golden Plover makes itself 

 one of the most conspicuous birds on the moors. No sooner 

 does the observer set foot on one of those interminable wilds 

 than the birds rise here and there from different parts of the 

 heath and fly towards him, sometimes alighting within a few 

 yards of him. Although to some extent a wary bird, much of 

 its shyness disappears in spring, and it may often be noticed 

 at this season running lightly amongst the heath, or standing 

 quietly, with head erect, on some tuft of grass intently watch- 

 ing the intruder. In early spring the Golden Plover may fre- 

 quently be observed in large flocks passing towards the moors, 



