CHARADRIIDAE—PLOVERS. 239
stead Park for several days (Lister). Parsons has many notes on this species (22).
In his day it occasionally bred on the coast in his neighbourhood. In 1833, "a
pair bred on Mr. Walton's Salterns at Shopland," and on June 10th, 1841, he
"took two eggs from a nest on Brimstone Saltings; they were sat upon." He
also notes the following occurrences late in spring: Apr. 21 st, 1826, "A good
many on the sands." Apr. nth, 1836, "Not yet all gone." 1837, May 6th,
" Saw a large flock ; " 23rd, " a good many at Canvey Point; " 24th, six on Foul-
ness Ridge ; June 6th, " a flock of more than a dozen about Canvey Point." Re-
specting their return in autumn he says: Aug. 15th, 1833, "They have arrived
in plenty." Aug. 10th, 1835, two on the sands ; 25th, a good many have arrived.
Aug. 12th, 1836, "Saw two or three lots ; " 26th, "a good many—some largish
lots ; " Oct. 7th, " A great many about the sands—more than I have seen for
two or three years." 1837, Aug. 19th, " Several about at Canvey." 1838,
Aug. 15th, " They have arrived."
On June 30th, 1864, Dr. Bree had one brought to him which had been found
alive, but unable to fly, in a field at Brightlingsea. He kept it in his garden for
some time and made observations upon its habits (32a).
It is not improbable that the Pye Sand, off Harwich, and the Pye-fleet
Channel, between Mersea Island and the mainland, take their names from this
bird, which is often known as the "Sea Pie."
Turnstone : Strepsilas interpres. Locally, " Stone-turner."
A fairly common bird as a passing migrant in spring and autumn,
sometimes tarrying on our coast till the beginning of June, and often
returning by the middle of August, though it does not breed in the
United Kingdom. It is sometimes met with in winter, and has been
killed inland.
Sheppard and Whitear speak of it (9. 3S) as " found sparingly on the sea-
coast." Parsons says (22) :—
" During the month of May [they] are found all along the eastern coast,
frequently tarrying until the latter end of the month, or even the beginning of
June, at which latter time I have occasionally seen them upon the shores of Essex
and [have] shot the old females with their eggs in a considerably advanced state."
He appends the following late observations on this point :—May 17th, 1836, a
pair on Shoebury Sands. May 23rd, 1837, shot a fine old female on Canvey
Point and saw one on foulness Shore the next day. June 10th, 1835, saw one on
Shoebury Sands. He also gives dates of their reappearance : Aug. 27th, 1835, " a
great many about the shore." Aug 29th, 1836, " a good many about the cockle-
shell point of Canvey, with Ring Dotterel and Oxbirds." In 1865, Lieut. Legge
wrote from Shoebury (34. 90) :
" This handsome bird is not very common, I believe, on these sands. The
shore is of a muddy nature and does not suit their habits. » * * Small flocks of
young birds arrived on the coast during the last week in August and first days of
September. They confined themselves to the shingle, and were not very shy.
Several specimens were shot, all young birds. They stayed about a week, and
then disappeared."
Round Harwich, Mr. Kerry says it is "common in the autumn." He adds
that three pairs in 1888, and two pairs in 1889, remained on the beach between
there and Walton during the entire summer ; but it is impossible to believe that
they bred there. One was killed at Audley End on Jan. 18th, 1832 (Clarke—24),
and in August, 1876, Mr. Stacey preserved one shot at High Roothing.