106 CHARADRIIDiE. 



THE GREY PLOVER * 



Squatarola cinerea, Cuv. 

 Trirtga squatarola, Linn. 



Is met with in very limited numbers around the coast in 

 autumn and winter ; it retires northward in spring. 



It is the latest of the Grallatores in making its autumnal appear- 

 ance in Belfast bay after the breeding season, and occasionally is 

 not seen until the latter end of September. The 1st of this 

 month (1841) is the earliest certain date of its arrival known to 

 me ; but it is said to have appeared at the end of August. Until 

 December inclusive, a few individuals were always seen, after 

 which month they probably moved southward. They did not 

 again appear until the following autumn, so that their line of 

 flight northward to their breeding haunts in spring was different 

 from their southward autumnal course. In other words they 

 were but of " single passage." Their disappearance before Janu- 

 ary may be considered to have been a general rule from the begin- 

 ning of the present century until the winter of 1843-44. The 

 late Mr. Templeton's journals exhibit several notices of his hav- 

 ing seen specimens in Belfast market in December, though not 

 later ; and the oldest shore-shooter of the bay named that month 

 to me, some years ago, as the latest time at which he had seen 

 them. Every winter, however, from the last-named to that of 

 1848-49, has witnessed the presence of the grey plover in the 

 months of January and February in the bay.f 



One bird only in the beautiful adult nuptial plumage have I known 

 to be shot here (June 13, 1834). It was in fine condition, and 



* This bird has various names, in addition to the above, viz. stone plover both in 

 the north and south ; whistling plover (Belfast bay) ; rock plover (Wexford) ; 

 strand plover (Cork) ; sea cock (Watcrford) . 



f From the 16th to the 21st of Feb. 1846, when the weather was remarkably 

 mild, this species was seen in plenty at Strangford lough, where golden plover aud 

 lapwings were abundant at the same time. 



