CHAEADEIUS EITLVUS. 937 



Tasmania, observed it in small numbers on the flats below Clarence Plains, and also killed examples on one 

 of the islands in Bass's Straits." In New Zealand, Mr. Buller says that it occurs occasionally as a straggler, 

 and always in winter plumage. 



Returning now to Central Asia, through which it evidently migrates from India to Northern Siberia, 

 passing from the south by Assam and Thibet, we find that celebrated traveller Col. Prjevalsky writing as 

 follows of it: — "In the beginning of May 1871 we noticed large numbers of this species during migration in 

 S.E. Mongolia, close to Si-ins ; they kept in large flocks about the newly-ploughed fields. In the following 

 year we again met with some, on the 24th of April, in the Hoang-ho valley, but found them rather scarce. 

 In autumn only a small flock was observed by us, in the beginning of September, in Northern Ala-shan ; but, 

 according to the statements of the missionaries, these birds are just as common about Si-ins in autumn as they 

 are in spring. It does not inhabit Kan-su or Koko-nor ; and only a few migrating specimens pass over Lake 

 Hanka, about the end of August." On the Amoor specimens were procured by Von Schrenck of a Plover 

 which, judging by the length of the tarsus, must have belonged to this species. In Japan it is common 

 throughout the country. It is most likely distributed over most of N.E. Siberia in the breeding-season ; 

 Middendorff procured it at Udskoj-Ostrog; and further west Mr. Seebohm met with it on the Yenesay first 

 on the 5th of June, and found it plentiful at Koo-ray'-i-ka as it was passing north. It was " extraordinarily 

 common " at Golchecka, and was breeding there. Dr. Finsch does not record it from the river Ob, nor does 

 it inhabit, properly speaking, the south-eastern portion of the continent, although it is not improbable that 

 stray birds, wandering westward of their regular habitat, in company with the closely-allied European species, 

 may occasionally turn up in Asia Minor or Palestine. Through these countries individuals led astray in this 

 manner have perhaps passed, or, if not, they have gone westward through Europe along with other Asiatic 

 species from more northerly latitudes ; for, singular to say, the species has been obtained in Heligoland by 

 Herr Gatke ; and a few years ago Mr. Dresser detected a specimen in Leadenhall Market, which had been sent 

 from Holland with the common Golden Plover. 



Habits. — When the Asiatic Golden Plover arrives first in Ceylon it is very tame, and can easily be walked 

 up to and shot ; and if perched on a rock in the water it will allow a boat to pass close to it without rising. 

 After a short period it gets wilder, but is never very sby. It is very fond of bare fields, and is usually found 

 in flocks of a dozen to thirty or forty, which extend themselves over a considerable extent of ground, and run 

 hither and thither independently of one another, every now and then making a spasmodic sort of peck at some 

 insect which its large eye catches sight of, and then resuming its bolt-upright position. I bave seen vast 

 flocks of it on the ooze in the north-west of Ceylon ; but where these were assembled small flocks were likewise 

 to be seen on the grassy land on the shore. As above mentioned, its movements are greatly affected by rain, 

 after which it appears in many localities where at other times it is never seen. During wet weather in 

 November or December a few are often to be found on the Galle face at Colombo, and likewise on the esplanade 

 at Trincomalie, in both of which places they are almost always in company with the Mongolian Sand-Plover, 

 and do not appear to be nearly so sby as when met witb on the sea-coast. It is its habit to run slowly when 

 walked up to, and then stand perfectly still, with its body turned away from the observer and head on one side; 

 and in this position it remains till approached within shot of, or nearly so, when it suddenly stretches out its 

 wings, and, after taking one or two quick strides, flies off along the ground with no great speed. When a flock 

 are on the wing, having been disturbed on the sea-shore, with perhaps a number of other shore-birds, they fly 

 very quickly, sometimes rising and falling in their course, and shooting down near the earth with the rapidity 

 of an arrow, as they hurry off to some new feeding-ground at a distance from the intruder. In general they are 

 much more silent than the Golden Plover of Europe ; and I am only acquainted- with their ordinary note of 

 alarm, which is one of two syllables, like til-wee. Mr. Seebohm, who heard it during the breeding-season in 

 Northern Siberia, says that its voice there exactly resembles that of the Grey Plover, which I have noticed 

 in my last article ; and he noticed all three variations, the third, however, being much more frequently uttered 

 by it than by the Grey Plover. In Ceylon I have found the food of this species to be insects of various kinds, 

 worms, and slugs. 



In Borneo, where the species is very common in the cool season, Mr. Mottley says they fly " in large flocks, 

 especially frequenting the bare muddy places where buffaloes are in the habit of bathing ; they are difficult," 



