366 BIRDS OF DUMFRIESSHIRE 
as now, miscaUed the Grey, or Green Plover in many districts. 
In some seasons this species is not so numerous as in 
others ; thus it was very scarce in Dumfriesshire in November 
and December, 1879, and was almost totally absent as a 
breeding-species in the following spring.* It is rarely seen 
on the coast in such large flocks, or as they are called 
stands," as thirty or forty years ago ; but I consider, 
that within the last ten or fifteen years, it is more frequently 
met with in autumn along the banks of the Nith in mid- 
Nithsdale. It was reported as unusually numerous during 
the autumn of 1908 at Glencaple.f 
Early in spring the Golden Plover resorts to its nesting- 
grounds, which are seldom at an altitude of less than eight 
hundred feet. Richard Bell wrote me in 1908 that the 
Golden Plover arrived at Castle O'er on February 17th, 
and in 1907 on February 27th. Mr. J. Bartholomew writes 
me that in 1908 he found a nest with four eggs as early as 
April 16th ; but as a general rule incubation does not com- 
mence till the end of that month. Mr. Myles Quinn writes 
me in May, 1908 : For the first time in my Hfe I saw a 
brood of young Golden Plover on Merkland Moss (Caer- 
laverock) last summer. This year I have twice seen a pair 
of old birds just on our boundary in the Colony Moss. That 
they are there for the purpose of breeding I am certain, but 
the female had not started to sit when I last saw them on 
May 15th." A glance at the map will show this locahty to 
be a remarkably low-lying nesting-place. During the period 
of incubation this species becomes considerably tamer, and 
is at this time one of the most characteristic birds of our 
upland grassy hills. 
In July and August the Golden Plover begm to pack 
together into " stands " of from thirty, to two or three 
hundred, frequenting the ' holms ' on the banks of our 
larger rivers. Mr. R. Service writes : " Some seasons they 
* Zoologist, 1880, p. 66. 
•j- Dumfries Courier and Herald, October 21st, 1908. 
