THE GREY PLOVER. 107 



was purchased by Dr. J. D. Marshall, but eventually added to 

 the collection in the Belfast Museum.* 



The only other specimen in full summer plumage of which I 

 have heard was obtained in Dublin bay in June 1848. In 

 " winter" the grey plover is met with there in small numbers, f 

 and also on the coast of Wexford, where at the end of January it 

 has been remarked as plentiful. J At "Waterford it was first 

 noticed (by Dr. R. J. Burkitt) in Dec. 1840; and in the "Fauna 

 of Cork" is characterized as a ' winter visitant/ At Youghal, 

 in this county, it was well known, though found sparingly. |j 

 With respect to Kerry, the late Mr. T. F. Neligan of Tralee 

 informed me, in the summer of 1837, that the first of these birds 

 which he saw there were two, brought in the preceding winter to 

 that town. At the sea-coast in its neighbourhood, he himself shot 

 one early in May that year, and saw three or four at the end of 

 the same month. Mr. E,. Chute, writing from that quarter in 

 1846, considered the species rather plentiful in winter on the 

 coast; and on Nov. 15, 1848, remarked that for the last three 



* This bird is much more handsome than that described and figured in Mr. Yar- 

 rell's work ; having the white continued from the forehead downwards, so as to 

 bound the black of the neck and breast on both sides. The white appears to the 

 breadth of an inch below the anterior base of the folded wing as this rests upon the 

 body. This colour terminates about an inch from the fold of the wing, whence black 

 spreads, not only from side to side, but over the body plumage beneath the wings. 

 The plumage of the tibial, and of the middle under side of the body from them to 

 the tail, is of pure white. Its irides were noted, when recent, as being hazel coloured. 

 It is singular, that of the many specimens killed here in autumn, which have come 

 under my notice, not one ever exhibited a trace of the summer or black under plum- 

 age. They have so occurred to Mr. Selby in Northumberland. 



The following are the dimensions of a grey plover shot at Strangford lough in 

 Dec. 1834, and taken previous to its being skinned: — 



In. Lines. 



Length total . 12 



of wing 



bill above 



to rictus 



naked tibia 



tarsus 



middle toe and nail 



hind toe and nail 



Tail-feathers twelve in number ; bill and legs black, 

 t Montgomery. % Poole. || Ball, 



7 



11 



1 



2 



1 



3i 







9 



1 



11 



1 



H 







If 



