36 
The Grey Plover (Squaterola cinerea). 
Very sparingly met with on the coasts. It appears to he much 
commoner in the eastern counties than with us. 
The Lapwing, or Peewit (Vanellus cristatus). 
Extremely common in the autumn months, congregating in 
pasture lands and the sea shore alternately. It disappears to a 
great extent in November, and returns in April, when the 
breeding haunts are occupied. They breed in communities of 
twenty or thirty pairs. In the last week of July, 1869, we 
observed a number of pairs of lapwings on the farm of Turnberry 
Warren, near Girvan, and being attracted by the behaviour of the 
birds as they plunged in the air while we drove past, we made a 
search in the field, and were surprised to find concealed among 
the rushes eight or ten broods in the down. These young birds 
were not more than ten days old. We have often observed this 
bird on moonlight evenings travelling in companies at a late 
hour, and at a considerable height in the air. Rural people in 
Ayrshire speak of the peesweep as a restless and “ ill-conditioned 
brute.” A properly seasoned dish of lapwings, however, about 
the close of autumn, when their flesh is really palatable, might 
help to dissipate this prejudice. 
The Turnstone (Strep silas interpres). 
Although the Turnstone cannot be called a common species in 
Ayrshire, it is never altogether absent. It is generally seen flying 
in flocks of five or six birds, and is somewhat restless in its habits, 
owing, probably, to the beach being unsuitable for a prolonged 
stay. Very fine specimens, nearly in the full breeding plumage, 
have been obtained by Mr Eaton at Ardrossan, where it appears 
to linger every year until May. In its winter dress it is common 
in some parts of Wigtownshire, such as the Bay of Wigtown, Gar- 
liestown Harbour, and the shores of Loch Ryan, etc. 
The Oyster-Catcher (Hcematopus ostralegus). 
Very common. On Fairlie Sands as many as fifty or sixty may 
be seen at a time, ranged along the oozy shores at low water. 
Southward on the Ayrshire coast, however, it becomes less numer¬ 
ous, and from Ayr to Ballantrae it occurs mostly in pairs, the 
small sandy bays offering but little temptation to a greater num- 
