VERTEBRATE ANIMALS OF LEICESTERSHIRE. 327 
bird to him as an unknown curiosity ; and my son, who was on 
his way to this neighbourhood, brought it forward to me.” 
Charadrius pluvialis, Linn. Golden Plover.—A winter visitant, 
between October and March, not common, and chiefly confined 
to Charnwood Forest and the wild hills around. Occasionally, 
however, it is found on the meadow lands which fringe the River 
Soar. It has been noted at Coleorton, Smeeton, Gumley, and 
Foxton. Mr. Davenport saw a flock of about fifty on March 15th, 
1883, and others have been met with in the Vale of Belvoir, in the 
Abbey Meadow, and in a field just off Saffron Lane, Aylestone, 
where sixty or more were counted ina flock. Mr. W.J. Horn saw 
some near Uppingham, Rutland, February 14th, 1886. 
Aigialitis hiaticula (Linn). Ringed Plover; Ring Dotterel. 
—A rare summer visitant. It has, however, occurred several 
times in the Abbey Meadow as well as in the meadows at Belgrave, 
and I was fortunate enough to shoot a specimen (an immature 
female) at Thornton Reservoir on September 25th, 1884. The 
Rev. Churchill Babington states that it has been killed at Groby 
by the keeper of the Earl of Stamford (see Potter’s ‘ History of 
Charnwood Forest’). 
Eudromias morinellus (Linn). Dotterel.—Formerly occurring 
in the county as a spring and autumn migrant. The Rev. 
Churchill Babington states that five were brought down at a shot 
by Mr. Tomlinson, jun., at Charnwood Heath, and that Miss 
Watkinson, of Woodhouse, had one, taken near Buddon Wood.” 
Sir George Beaumont possesses a specimen killed near Coleorton, 
and Mr. Potter, of Billesdon, reports two shot at Ilston, by Mr. 
J. Allen, of Frisby Lodge. 
Vanellus vulgaris (Bechstein). Lapwing.—Resident, generally 
distributed and breeding. In winter it is often met with in 
large flocks. Mr. Davenport writes :—“‘In April, 1884, I remarked 
a cock and two hen Lapwings frequenting a ploughed field for 
some little time ; eventually I found the two nests on the same 
morning, within ten yards of each other, each nest containing 
four fresh eggs. Iam sure there was only one male bird with 
the two hens. On November 4th, 1885, Lapwings were reported 
to be flocking in meadows by the Aylestone-road Gas Works, and 
the next day—the floods being ‘out’—I saw several flocks of 
some six or seven hundred or more congregated in meadows 
opposite the Aylestone-road Mill.” 
