NovEs ON THE BIRDS OF DUMFRIESSHIRE. 103 
The GREY PLOVER (p. 368). One was shot at the 
mouth of the Nith on 10th October, 1912. Mr George Robson 
informs me that he shot two Grey Plovers, out of a party of 
four, on 20th September, 1921, at Eastpark Merse (Caer- 
laverock) and that he killed one, near the same place, in 1919, 
and three others several years previously. On 22nd October, 
1922, I was sent two Grey Plovers by Mr Robson which had 
been shot near Caerlaverock a few days before. 
The LAPWING (p. 369). The flock of “‘ at least 50,000 
birds ’’ seen ‘“* near Maxwelltown ”’ 
of Garrel, Kirkcudbrightshire. 
A cream-coloured Lapwing was shot near Craigs (Dum- 
fries) in the spring of rorr. 
in 1900, were on the farm 
On ist August, 1911, I shot a Lapwing at Capenoch 
(Keir) whose feet had become entangled in sheep’s wool; one 
foot had been completely worn off and the other was pitifully 
distorted and swollen: the bird was in an emaciated condi- 
tion. I have already mentioned (p. 91) that in 1905 I found 
a Lapwing, near Capenoch, in a state of ‘‘ advanced tuber- 
culosis.”’ 
On 8th August, 1911, | found a young Lapwing which 
had not yet acquired its power of flight and which must 
therefore have been hatched at an unusually late date. The 
’ 
first ‘‘ Plover’s egg ’’ was found near Capenoch (Keir) in 
EQLO, ON 26th; in 1911, on 28th; in 1912, on 23rd; in 1913, 
on 27th; in 1918, on 28th; in 1919, on 27th; in 1921, on 25th; 
and in 1922, on 31st March. 
From all over the county I hear that the Lapwing is de- 
creasing as a breeding species and I regret to say that this 
is my experience as regards the vicinity of my home. 
Various remedies have been suggested to me :—First, that 
the killing of the birds should be made illegal : secondly, that 
both the killing of the birds and the taking of their eggs should 
be prohibited; and thirdly, that the taking of their eggs up 
to 15th April should no longer be legal. I confess that 1 am 
in doubt as to whether the taking of such eggs as are laid 
before 15th April is not actually beneficial to the welfare of 
the species for, it is to my mind probable that, if these eggs 
