166 STUDIES IN BIRD-MIGRATION 



1909; 9th and 26th October 1908. From 4th to 9th 

 May 1 9 10, two were seen. The bird breeds as near as 

 the southern portion of the mainland of Shetland. 



^GiALiTis HiATicoLA, Ringed Plover. — One or two 

 pairs are summer visitors to the Isle ; but many appear 

 regularly on passage in both spring and autumn. 

 Single birds have arrived at the end of January, 

 and one or two in February and the first half of March. 

 After the latter date, numbers, sometimes many, appear 

 down to the end of March, when the movements cease 

 to be observed. 



In autumn the returning birds arrive during the first 

 week of September, and the movements are in progress 

 until mid-October, and in some seasons mid-November. 

 A single bird was seen on 30th November 19 10, and 

 another on 13 th December 19 10. 



, Charadrius pluvialis, Golden Plover. — A bird of 

 double passage, being common at both seasons. 



The spring movements northwards commence with 

 the earliest days of March, and are observed throughout 

 April and May. The migrants are most abundant 

 between the latter half of April and the middle of May, 

 but small numbers have been seen down to the end of 

 the latter month. 



In autumn a few appear in July and August, 

 probably from Shetland ; but it is not numerous until 

 the latter half of September. The numbers fall off in 

 October, and after the middle of the month, and during 

 November and December, stragglers only have been 

 seen. 



Squat arola helvetica. Grey Plover.- — ^A single bird 

 only has as yet been detected. This I saw on 23rd 

 September, and again on the 25th, in 1908. 



