52 On the Ornithology of Wilts [Charadriadai]. 



Manningford Bruce, between Upavon and Enford, in May, 1857: 

 it was close to the road-side, standing on a clod of earth, all alone 

 in its glory, and did not care to move out of the way. My own 

 specimen now in my collection, was shot on the Lavington downs. 

 The late Mr. Withers had many pass through his hands for preser- 

 vation ; and indeed everybody conversant with our Wiltshire birds 

 will know something of its occurrence. Its flesh is considered a 

 great dainty, and in the days of its abundance on our downs, it 

 was eagerly sought for by fowlers. It may be readily known by 

 the dark orange brown of the breast, which deepens into black 

 lower down ; and by the streak of black and another of white 

 which cross the breast. It is a smart dapper little species, and its 

 dwindled numbers and rapid extinction from among our down 

 birds it much to be lamented. 



"Ringed Plover. " (Charadrius Hiaticula.) Common enough, 

 on the sea-shore all round our coasts, this species is such a lover of 

 salt water that it very rarely is seen inland : and but for a notice 

 by the late Mr. Marsh, of a specimen which was killed near Malmes- 

 bury, in 1838, and which I have seen in his collection, I should 

 not have been able to include it in our Wiltshire list. It is a 

 prettily marked little bird, light brown above and white below, 

 and is conspicuous for the distinct collar of white and then of black 

 which encircles its neck. It is indigenous in our island, and I 

 have met with it at all seasons on the Norfolk coast in considerable 

 abundance; like other shore- feeding birds it follows the tide, and 

 runs rapidly at the edge of the advancing or retreating waves. 



" Lapwing." (Vaneltus cristatus.) Here we have the true 

 Plover of the downs of modern days ; and what Wiltshireman does 

 not know the peculiar call-note of the Peewit, or the remarkable 

 flight of the Lapwing, (for both names belong to one and the same 

 bird,) as he traverses any portion of the downs. Resplendent 

 with a metallic gloss on its dark green upper plumage, capped 

 with a crest or tuft of long narrow curling feathers ; elegant as it 

 runs forward at a rapid pace, and as suddenly stops ; and then 

 runs forward again in spasmodic jerks ; the Lapwing arrests the 

 attention of the most unobservant. It is indigenous in England, 



