90 CHARADMIDiE. 



boundary formed by the river Tyne."* The most recent work 

 on British ornithology particularizes " the Cheviot Hills and 

 other high ground of the Border Counties in the north of 

 England/'t as the most southern breeding haunts of the species 

 in Great Britain. The whole of Ireland, except a small por- 

 tion of the extreme north, is southward of that latitude ; yet in 

 suitable localities throughout the island, to the county of Kerry 

 inclusive, the golden plover nidifies. It is well remarked by 

 Mr. Hewitson to be " a very watchful bird, and usually discovers 

 itself long before you approach it, by its clear and plaintive 

 whistle, which may be heard at a great distance, and is very 

 deceptive. Upon hearing it when in search of their eggs, I have 

 frequently expected to see the bird close beside me : and, after 

 anxiously searching for it with my eyes all around, have discovered 

 it perched at a distance of three or four hundred yards, upon some 

 hillock or rising ground, on which it mostly takes it stand." J 



I have met with this bird in its breeding haunts on the summits 

 of some of our most lofty mountains, as well as in moist, heathy 

 tracts little elevated above the sea, and in all intermediate situa- 

 tions as to elevation. On the 30th of June, 1832, a pair came 

 under my notice on the summit of Muckish mountain (Donegal), 

 about 2,200 feet in height, where the nest was placed in a moist 

 spot with little cover. During the same excursion the species 

 was met with commonly in the wild bogs of that county. On 

 some mountains in the county of Londonderry a sporting friend 

 observed these birds about their breeding haunts, as well as in 

 small flocks (perhaps a score of birds together), when grouse- 

 shooting there from the 20th to the 30th of August, 1833. 

 While passing over the wild mountain tract covered with heath, 

 between Cushendall and Ballycastle (Antrim), on the 7th June, 

 1834, we were several times attracted by the mournful note of the 

 golden plover. The first that appeared was perched (according 

 to the habit of the species at this season), on a little height, 

 giving forth his cry. He was within twenty paces of us and 



* Sclby. f Yarrell. % Egg's Brit. Birds, p. 249. 



