BIRDS it arrives in April and returns in October, but a few individuals remain much later, as I have met with them the second week in November, and one has been recorded as late as January 30 (Saunders, Man. Brit. Birds, p. 529, ed. 2). Mr. Wallis tells me young were found lying between the egg-shells in June, 1890, near Aid worth, and Mr. Proger says they [breed regularly on a farm near Moulsford. Mr. Cornish writes that they seem to be increasing in his district, and at Catmore on September i, 1901, he counted twelve on the wing at once ; he adds that a pair seem to breed in most localities suited to their habits. 1 66. Dotterel. Eudromias morinellus (Linn.). A spring and autumn migrant, passing through our county to and from their northern breeding grounds. Although not so numerous as formerly, a ' trip ' may often be seen on the Chiltern range of hills in April or May and again in September. Mr. Newton tells me that they are to be seen near Wallingford, in little lots of four or five, the second or third week in May, and that they return in trips of fifteen to thirty during the second or third week in August ; he adds, ' they have not been so regular of late years.' Mr. Cornish has often noticed them at Childrey in September, and it would seem that the line of migration runs from Wilts to Oxon, through the vale of the White Horse, Want- age and Wallingford. 167. Ringed Plover. /Egia/itis hiaticula (Linn.). An occasional visitor, and, according to Clark Kennedy, must have been of more frequent occurrence in the ' sixties ' than now. It has been observed near Reading, Wantage and Maidenhead. One was shot on Ilsley Downs April, 1810. It is said to be seen on the river nearly every spring at Radley (Fauna and Flora of Radley, p. 12). [Little Ringed Plover. jEgialitis curonica (J. F. Gmelin). Dr. Palmer mentions a specimen seen in the local bird-stuffer's shop by Mr. Herbert which was said to have been shot in the neighbourhood (' Birds of Newbury and Dis- trict '). The above probably refers to the smaller race of /E. hiaticula which has been specifically separated under the name of /E. intermedium : the real . curonica is of extremely rare oc- currence in this country.] 1 68. Golden Plover. Charadrius pluvialis, Linn. This bird is a regular winter visitor, and the arrival of small flocks may be looked for in November. These are curiously constant to a particular spot and may be found fre- quenting the same field year after year. One of their great strongholds would seem to be the fields between Newbury and Thatcham, where Dr. Palmer says he has often seen flocks of considerable dimensions. 169. Lapwing. Vanellus vulgaris, Bechstein. Locally, Peevit, Green Plover. Common and resident, though its numbers are greatly augmented in spring and autumn, and large flocks may often be seen at these seasons of the year out of all proportion to the breeding residents. 170. Oyster-catcher. Linn. Htematopus ostralegus, A very rare visitor. Dr. Lamb mentions one shot at Burghfield in January, 1794; while Clark Kennedy states that one was shot 'a few years since near Windsor,' i.e. about 1863 ; and another was observed near Reading (Birds of Berks and Bucks, p. 185), but particulars are wanting. Mr. Newton informs me that he once saw this bird on the Thames near Wallingford. One was taken at Streatley at the end of 1882 or beginning of 1883 and preserved by Mr. Hambling of Reading. 171. Avocet. Recurvirostra avocetta, Linn. Six of these beautiful birds were killed at one shot while swimming on a pond at Son- ning near Reading, in April, 1794 (' Ornith. Bercheria '). 172. Black-winged Stilt. Himantopus candi- dus, Bonnaterre. In their list of birds of Oxfordshire and its neighbourhood published in the Zoologist, 1849 (pp. 2592, 2603), Messrs. A. and H. Matthews mention a stilt killed at ' Shipley ' near Henley. It was for some time in the possession of Mr. Kirtland, who obtained it soon after its capture, and it passed into the collection of the Rev. H. Roundell. ' Ship- ley,' or Shiplake, is in Oxon, but inasmuch as the river here divides the two counties, and the bird was probably taken on the banks, I have claimed a share for our county. 173. Grey Phalarope. Phalaropus fulicarius (Linn.). This northern species is a not very rare visitor. Dr. Lamb mentions one shot at Shinfield, March, 1794 (' Ornith. Bercheria'). Wooley mentions one killed on the Thames at Windsor in December, 1851 (Birds of Berks and Bucks, p. 197). Out of the me- 161 21
