GAME BIRDS AND WILD FOWL. 121 



the Semipalmated Plover occasionally visits the British Islands, 

 especially in autumn. 



Time during which the Greater Ringed Plover may 

 be taken. — August ist to March ist. 



Habits. — The most usual haunts of the Greater Ringed 

 Plover are the sandy coasts, although exceptionally it frequents, 

 especially during the breeding season, the shores of some inland 

 lakes, and warrens, and dunes at some considerable distance from 

 the sea. It is, however, a bird of the sand and a bird of the coast. 

 It is especially attached to the low coasts, not the mud-flats, but 

 the long broad reaches of sand and shingle, and to these haunts 

 it keeps throughout the year. It is an active little bird, in- 

 cessantly in motion, and provided due care be exercised, will 

 admit of a sufficiently close approach to observe its every action 

 with ease. It runs with great speed across the wet sands just out 

 of the reach of the waves, picking here and picking there, now 

 pausing a moment, then darting forward to probe into the soft 

 brown sand in quest of prey. It follows the retreating waves, and 

 searches the wet foam-flecked sand, and then runs shorewards once 

 more as each succeeding wave breaks upon the beach. It is most 

 attached to its feeding grounds, and in autumn and winter, when 

 a flock has taken up its residence on some particular stretch of 

 sand, they may be fired at repeatedly, always flying out to sea for 

 a little way, and then returning inshore to another part of the 

 sand. As they fly in a more or less compact bunch a chorus of 

 double notes is uttered, and the moment they alight they begin 

 searching for food as if they had never been disturbed. Some- 

 times in inland localities this bird may be seen running along the 

 tops of walls, or even on weirs and sluices. The flight of this 

 Plover is rapid, and performed by quick and regular beats of the 

 wings. It usually flies along at no great distance from the 

 ground or water, but when seriously alarmed often mounts up to 

 a good height. Sometimes a flock will perform various graceful 

 evolutions in the air, turning and twisting with as much precision 

 as though moved by a common impulse. When just about to 

 alight the wings are frequently held stiff" and arched, and the 

 bird skims along for a little way, and usually the pinions are held 

 open for a short time after it has alighted. I have often marked 



