I9O BIRD-LIFE IN A SOUTHERN COUNTY. 



tail coverts catching the eye at once. We remem- 

 ber the " Old Bushman's " saying, " What is hit is 

 history, but what is missed is mystery," and we 

 have no wish to see this occurrence reckoned 

 among the instances upon which the Killdeer 

 Plover's claim to be regarded as a British bird 

 may rest. We cannot produce our bird, but we 

 record the circumstance as an interesting fact. 

 We may mention that this species has been 

 obtained on the Scilly Islands; and also the 

 fact that more than one rare bird has been 

 obtained upon these sands. Immediate pursuit 

 of our bird was impossible, because the tide 

 prevented us from following it down the coast 

 towards Torquay, and subsequent search ended 

 in failure. 



Almost invariably a few Sanderlings are attached 

 to these flocks of Ringed Plovers and remain in 

 their company throughout the winter. We have 

 killed Sanderlings and Plovers at the same 

 discharge of the gun. The bird cannot be 

 regarded as abundant in any part of this district, 

 but larger flocks are sometimes remarked about 

 the estuary of the Exe. This species is one that 

 does not occur in such numbers now as it did 



