90 the ornithologist's guide 



choice, but when wounded it can both swim and 

 dive, though not rapidly or dexterously. It is al- 

 ways to be found along the rocky shores, where it 

 makes its nest chiefly amongst the shingly stones 

 not far above high-water mark, and occasionally 

 upon the low shelves of the rocks. It lays three 

 or four eggs ; I have taken many nests, and more 

 frequently found three than four. The young leave 

 the nest as soon as they are hatched. 



Strepsilas Interpres, Leach. Turnstone. 

 This bird only visits these islands in the winter 

 season, and is not numerous. It leaves early in 

 the spring. 



Vaxellus crjstatus, Meyer. Peewit. Lap- 

 wing. — This is a rare bird both in Orkney and 

 Shetland, only a few pairs visiting these countries 

 in the summer. 



Charadrius pluyialis, ZAnn. Golden Plover. 

 — The Golden Plover breeds and is very numerous 

 in both countries. At the period of incubation it 

 is very tame and falls an easy prey to the fowler. 

 It is seen in large flocks in the daytime on the 

 hills in the months of September and October. In 

 the winter, when the ground is covered with snow, 



