100 
CHARADRIID.E. 
northward in spring, when for some weeks it w'as seen in num- 
bers associated with hosts of dunlins. The season, no matter how 
fine, was always far advanced before they took their departure, 
respecting the period of which, a few dates may be supplied. 
1832. May 21st, more appeared on the western side of Belfast 
bay than I had ever seen together : 31st of that month, some still 
remained. On the 3rd of June a flock consisting of about a 
dozen birds was observed : single birds and pairs were at the 
same time seen, but these would remain all summer. On the 
22nd and 26th May, 1833, flocks consisting of about twenty or 
thirty birds appeared. On May 2nd, 1838, ringed plovers and 
dunlins together — (they were associated on all the former occa- 
sions) — were in remarkable profusion, literally in thousands; the 
species under consideration forming about one-tenth of the whole. 
The calls of such a multitude were highly melodious,'^ and being 
heard at a distance first attracted my attention to them : they 
were indeed the observed of all observers,^^ passing on the adja- 
cent highway. On the 9th of the same month a large flock was 
seen here. 
The earliest note before me of their return from breeding, refers 
to 1827, when they were numerous in the bay on the 31st July. 
Blocks consisting of about twenty (perhaps bred here) I have seen 
in the middle of this month. August is the usual period of their 
arrival. 
Several ringed plover were observed by Mr. E. Ball and myself 
in June 1834, on the sands at one extremity of the fresh- water 
lake at Beltra, between Westport and JSTephin mountain, county of 
Mayo : one which was shot proved to be adult. On the 20th 
July, 1839, one of these birds was observed on the sandy banks 
of Lough Neagh, in Shanes castle park ; and Mr. Selby, who was 
present, agreed with me that its manoeuvres indicated the proxi- 
mity of the young. On the 2nd of August, 1846, I saw some 
single birds, and also twenty-five in a flock, on the shores of that 
* The ringed plover has a full rich note at this season, in sound like the word tu- 
leep, sometimes uttered slowly, at others rapidly. Its ordinary note is a simple (and 
not loud) little whistle. 
