CHARADRHTS FITLVUS. 
937 
Tasmania, observed it in small numbers on the flats below Clarence Plains, and also killed examples on one 
of the islands in Bass’s Straits.” In New Zealand, Mr. Buller says that it occurs occasionally as a straggler, 
and always in winter plumage. 
Returning now to Central Asia, through which it evidently migrates from India to Northern Siberia, 
passing from the south by Assam and Thibet, we find that celebrated traveller Col. Prjevalsky writing as 
follows of it:— "In the beginning of May 1871 we noticed large numbers of this species during migration in 
S.E. Mongolia, close to Si-ins; they kept in large flocks about the newly-ploughed fields. In the following 
year we again met with some, on the 24th of April, in the Hoang-ho valley, but found them rather scarce. 
In autumn only a small flock was observed by us, in the beginning of September, in Northern Ala-shan ; but, 
according to the statements of the missionaries, these birds are just as common about Si-ins m autumn as they 
are in spring. It does not inhabit Kan-su or Koko-nor; and only a few migrating specimens pass over Lake 
Hanka, about the end of August.” On the Amoor specimens were procured by Von Schrenck of a Plover 
which, judging by the length of the tarsus, must have belonged to this species. In Japan it is common 
throughout the country. It is most likely distributed over most of N.E. Siberia in the breeding-season ; 
Middendorff procured it at Udskoj-Ostrog ; and further west Mr. Sccbohm met with it on the Yenesay first 
on the 5th of June, and found it plentiful at Koo-ray'-i-ka as it was passing north. It was “ extraordinarily 
common ” at Crolchccka, and was breeding there. Dr. Finsch does not record it from the river Ob, nor does 
it inhabit, properly speaking, the south-eastern portion of the continent, although it is not improbable that 
stray birds, wandering westward of their regular habitat, in company with the closely-allied European species, 
may occasionally turn up in Asia Minor or Palestine. Through these countries individuals led astray in this 
manner have perhaps passed, or, if not, they have gone westward through Europe along with other Asiatic 
species from more northerly latitudes; for, singular to say, the species has been obtained in Heligoland by 
Herr Gatke; and a few years ago Mr. Dresser detected a specimen in Lcadenhall Market, which had been sent 
from Holland with the common Golden Plover. 
Halits. When the Asiatic Golden Plover arrives first in Ceylon it is very tame, and can easily be walked 
up to and shot ; and if perched on a rock in the water it will allow a boat to pass close to it without rising. 
After a short period it gets wilder, but is never very shy. It is very fond of bare fields, and is usually found 
in flocks of a dozen to thirty or forty, which extend themselves over a considerable extent of ground, and run 
hither and thither independently of one another, every now and then making a spasmodic sort of peck at some 
insect which its large eye catches sight of, and then resuming its bolt-upnght position. I have seen vast 
flocks of it on the ooze in the north-west of Ceylon ; but where these were assembled small flocks were likewise 
to be seen on the grassy land on the shore. As above mentioned, its movements are greatly affected by rain, 
after which it appears in many localities where at other times it is never seen. During wet weather in 
November or December a few are often to be found on the Gallc face at Colombo, and likewise on the esplanade 
at Trincomalie, in both of which places they are almost always in company with the Mongolian Sand-Plover, 
and do not appear to be nearly so shy as when met with on the sea-coast. It is its habit to run slowly when 
walked up to, and then stand perfectly still, with its body turned away from the observer and head on one side ; 
and in this position it remains till approached within shot of, or nearly so, when it suddenly stretches out its 
wings, and, after taking one or two quick strides, flies off along the ground with no great speed. M hen a flock 
are on the wing, having been disturbed on the sea-shore, with perhaps a number of other shore-birds, they fly 
very quickly, sometimes rising and falling in their course, and shooting down near the earth with the rapidity 
of an arrow, as they hurry off to some new feeding-ground at a distance from the intruder. In general they are 
much more silent than the Golden Plover of Europe ; and I am only acquainted with their ordinary note of 
alarm, which is one of two syllables, like til-wee. Mr. Seebohm, who heard it during the breeding-season in 
Northern Siberia, says that its voice there exactly resembles that of the Grey Plover, which I have noticed 
in my last article; and he noticed all three variations, the third, however, being much more frequently uttered 
by p than by the Grey Plover. In Ceylon I have found the food of this species to be insects of various kinds, 
worms, and slugs. 
In Borneo, where the species is very common in the cool season, Mr. Mottley says they ny ce in large flocks* 
especially frequenting the bare muddy places where buffaloes are in the habit of bathing ; they are difficult,” 
