BIRDS OF DUMFRIESSHIRE 365 
Solway from the Viaduct to the River Sark, but it is 
behaved that the habit of breeding inland on the gravel- 
beds of our larger rivers is becoming more common. 
Jiggs have been taken near Thornhill, on the Nith, and at 
many places on its lower reaches, as weU as on the Annan 
Mr. R. Armstrong writes me that in 1890 he found a small 
colony of about six pairs nesting on the gravel-beds lying 
between the junction of the Cample and the Scaur with the 
Nith ; thither they returned every year for twelve years, but 
then suddenly deserted their nesting-ground. However, a 
tew pairs have nested in the district since 1905. 
Ringed Plover are usually very conservative in returning 
to their breedmg-haunts, where they may be looked for 
from April 17th to 23rd. Later in autumn, our locally 
bred birds probably migrate south, their places being taken 
by immigrants from farther north ; and at this season of 
the year the species is most numerous on our coast During 
a severe wmter they are occasionaUy seen in large flocks, but 
on the return of milder weather they disperse. 
Owing to its tame and confiding nature the Ringed Plover 
IS but seldom shot by the local shore-shooter, to some of 
whom It IS known by the name of the "Five-toed Plover " 
How this nickname has been derived it is difficult to surmise. 
THE GOLDEN PLOVER. Charadrius pluvialis, Linn^us. 
Local names-PuvER; Grey Plover; Green Plover. 
" As far upon the moorland grey 
The plover seeks its summer home. 
And sunshine fills the scene of day. 
As far as foot or eye can roam." 
Henry ScoTT-RiDDELL.—" i^nes written on a Hawk:' 
In both the Statistical Accounts of Scotland the Golden 
Plover IS mentioned as a local bird, being m those days 
