XI PREFACE. 



Grey Plover. — When describing the difference between the golden 

 and grey plover, at p. 87, as seen on wing, or in the act of alighting, 1 

 omitted mentioning the obvious character afforded by the black colour 

 of the axillary plume beneath the wing in the latter species. When 

 seen, this is a positive mark of distinction, the same plume in the 

 golden plover being white. 



In the ' Young Sportsman's Manual,' by Craven, published this" year 

 (1849), it is stated : — " Ireland seems the chosen land of the grey plover, 

 which is there met with in strong flocks ; but almost invariably asso- 

 ciated with the lapwing," p. 212. Both these observations apply to the 

 golden (C. pluvialis) and not to the grey plover (C. squalarola) pro- 

 perly so called. See descriptions of these species in the present volume. 



I have seen in the interesting collection of native birds belonging to 

 Mr. Watters, jun., of Dublin, a grey plover in full adult summer plu- 

 mage, which was shot in the bay there, July 29, 1849. It is the third 

 specimen in this plumage known to me as obtained on the Irish coast. 



Night Heron. See p. 173. Bee. 4, 1849. — I saw a specimen, 

 received to-day in a fresh state, by Mr. Glennon, Dublin. It agreed 

 with Jenyns' description of the young of the year, except in the eyes 

 being orange-yellow, the feet and toes bright yellowish green, and the 

 throat yellowish. Although the immature birds " set up " with the 

 wings close to the body are unattractive, this bird looked exceedingly 

 beautiful when the wings were expanded, in consequence of the central 

 tip of each feather in all of the several rows, as they thus appeared, (ex- 

 cepting only the primaries and secondaries) displaying a pure white 

 sagittate marking on a ground of pale cinnamon colour, this being 

 the hue of the outer web in all the feathers of the wing. 



sitting, and carried it to his master, who rewarded his dexterity with a slice of 

 pudding or a sausage, which he carried in his pocket. I have seen several quails thus 

 caught by the dog in the same field, and after each performance he was very 

 exacting of his reward. If the bird rose, the man fired at it, so there was little 

 chance of escape for the poor quail. The dog caught several for every one that was 

 brought down by the gun or even fired at. It may be desirable to add that this did 

 not occur in the breeding season." 



