98 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



Kinged Plover, Mgialitis hiaticula. — The commonest of all 

 our shore birds, abundant on sandy and muddy parts of the coast. 

 On the gravel banks of the northern shores nests are frequent. 



Lapwing, Vanellus vulgaris. — Though large flocks are seen in 

 winter, the Lapwing breeds here in but small numbers, a few pairs 

 only being settled here and there during the nesting season. 



Turnstone, Strepsilas interpres. — Of rather uncommon occur- 

 rence. I have seen only one alive, in Castletown Bay. 



Oystercatcher, Hcematopus ostralegus. — Called " Garey- 

 vreck" by country people ; is plentiful on our more open shores, 

 and breeds on the northern coast in considerable numbers, and 

 more sparingly in some other localities. 



Snipe, Gallinago ccelestis. — A few Snipe certainly remain all 

 the year round. 



Dunlin, Tringa alpina. — Though seldom found on the sands 

 of Douglas, is common on the southern bays. Great numbers, 

 in plumage changing to the summer red and black, may be seen 

 on the northern sands in May, but do not seem to reside there 

 in winter. 



Purple Sandpiper, T. striata. — During the last three winters 

 a small party of these birds has frequented the same spot in 

 Douglas Bay, with curious persistence. 



Common Sandpiper, Totanus hypoleucus. — A few pairs are 

 scattered along our streams in summer, as on the Sulby, Santon 

 Burn, and Glass, and in autumn may be seen with their broods 

 at the mouths of burns on the sea-shore. 



Bedshank, T. calidris. — Frequent about Castletown in winter. 



Whimbrel, Numenius phceopus. — Small parties may be met 

 with in May, on the shingle-beaches of both the northern and 

 southern coasts, their fearlessness strongly contrasting with the 

 shyness of the Curlew. 



Curlew, N. arquata. — Is abundant in winter, and even in 

 summer flocks may be met with on the northern coast. A few 

 breed, or did so a few years ago, on the elevated moorlands of 

 the Kheeast ; perhaps in other localities. 



Black-headed Gull, Larus ridibundus. — Abundant from. July 

 to March ; none seem to breed on the island, though I have seen 

 numbers at Jurby at the end of May. 



Common Gull, L. canus. — Occurs in the bays in small 

 numbers in winter, a few being often seen with a large flock of 



