BIRDS 197. Cream-coloured Courser. Cursorius gallicus (J. F. Gmelin) Dr. Babington mentions one occurrence of this very rare straggler to England, stating that one was shot at Friston in 1828 {Cata- logue, p. 239). 198. Dotterel. Eudromias morinellus {L,mn.) An uncommon spring and autumn migrant, but it is quite possible that in the plain plumage of the first autumn many "have been shot and eaten without being recognized. In the spring of 1880 one in perfect summer dress was brought to Mr. Hele which had 'made a job of itself (Suffolk for suicide) against the telegraph wires so effectually that it could not be mounted. The dotterel breeds no nearer to Suffolk than the mountains of the English lake district. 199. Ringed Plover. Mgia litis hiaticula (Linn.) Locally, Stone-hatch, inland ; Stone-runner, on the coast. The graceful flight and mellow whistle of this pretty bird must be familiar to every one who has walked along the shingly beaches of Suffolk. It is a resident breeding on the coast and also inland at Barnham, Elveden, Lakenheath and on Thetford Warren. Mr. W. G. Clarke has given {Zoologist, 1897, pp. 502-4) full details of the inland nesting- places, stating that the birds arrive in March and sometimes have eggs by the end of the month, adding that they leave about mid- August and are said to ' go with the cuckoos.' Young birds unable to fly are sometimes seen in August, which indicates that two broods are reared in the year.- A rather smaller form with darker mantle occurs on migration, but the real little ringed plover (/£. curonica) has not been recognized in Suffolk. 200. Kentish Plover. Mgialitis cantiana (Latham) A rare spring and autumn migrant, the breeding grounds of which are confined in England to a very limited area on the coasts of Kent and Sussex. It is smaller than the ringed plover and can be identified at any age by its black legs. A very perfect male in the Ipswich Museum was shot near Aldeburgh in June, 1869. 201. Golden Plover. Charadrius pluvialis, Linn. A winter migrant often met with inland but rarely remaining late enough to assume its summer plumage. In May, 1891, one was shot at Tuddenbam (west Suffolk) with a very perfect black breast, which is still in the possession of Mr. Travis of Bury. Its nearest breeding grounds are on the Derbyshire hills. The lesser golden plover {Charadrius dominicus) has lately been added to the British list, and any one shooting a small golden plover near the coast will do well to obtain the opinion of an expert before consigning it to the larder. 202. Grey Plover. Squatarola helvetica (Linn.) A typical spring and autumn visitant much more numerous in the latter season. Young birds in first plumage have a yellowish tinge on the back, but the grey plover can be recog- nized in any plumage by possessing a hind toe. The splendid specimens in the Ipswich Museum were shot near Aldeburgh in 1866 or 1867. 403. Lapwing. Vanellus vulgaris, Bechstein. Locally, Peewit, Horn-Pie. A resident breeding in rough meadows, on commons and also on arable land throughout the county. In the very early spring of 1 894 a full clutch of eggs was found at Tostock on 30 March. Many eggs are taken for eating, but if the first nest is safely hatched only one brood is reared. Early in July the Suffolk-bred birds congregate in flocks, and there are large additions of foreigners ' in late autumn, of which there are many records from lightships and lighthouses. 204. Turnstone. Strepsilas interpres (Linn.) A spring and autumn migrant and a bird easily recognized from its black and white plumage. The young birds begin to arrive in August and are sometimes so tame that they will allow a shore-shooter to walk almost up to them. The turnstone frequents the beach and is often seen feeding quite close to the tide-line. Dr. Babington had no records from west Suffolk. 205. Oyster-catcher. Hamatopus ostralegus, Linn. Locally, Olive (Rev. F. C. R. Jourdain) ; Mere-Pie. The great flocks of oyster-catchers which frequent the shores of the Wash are unknown in Suffolk, though Mr. Hele says that they were ' formerly much more abundant than now and used to breed in large numbers about the mere-land at Thorpe.' No eggs came into his possession between i860 and 1890, when in the second edition of his book he wrote of the once abundant birds : * A few of these are generally to be found during May, both at Thorpe and about the river side,' referring to those which occurred on migration. In 205
