THE PLOVER. 



looks about him, the bird comes and alights close by on some mossy bank. 

 This is not the season for the sportsman, so he escapes with impunity. 



The nest is a very slovenly fabric, and consists of a few fragments of 

 heather plants, placed in a slight hollow, or laid on a dry spot on the ground. 

 There are four eggs of a hght yellow, or cream colour, dotted and patched 

 with brown, and sometimes with a few light purple spots. 



The little plovers come from the shell quite able to run, and to take care 

 of themselves, and to leave the nest at once. 



The mother bird goes about with them, however, and is very anxious for 

 their safety, and if any danger threatens, is in the greatest distress. She does 

 all she can to distract the attention of the enemy. She flaps her wings and 

 droops them, as if she were too lame to proceed many steps. And she will 

 even flutter about on the ground, as if she were in the agonies of death. All 

 this time the little plovers are lying flat on the ground, so that not a trace 

 can be seen of them. In very wintry weather also, the plovers have the 

 habit of squatting close to the ground. 



When the young birds can fly the plovers begin to collect into flocks, 

 ready for their winter journeys. But they remain on the moors as long 

 as possible. 



The plover has other enemies besides man. The peregrine falcon has 

 been seen to pursue and seize him. And a battle scene has been viewed 

 between the hawk and the plover. 



It lasted nearly ten minutes, and the plover doubled about like the hare 

 before the greyhound, sometimes darting up into the air high above the hawk, 

 then hiding behind a bush or crag. The hawk took matters very coolly, and 

 did not fatigue herself in the least. But she never gave up the pursuit, and 

 kept quietly on until her victim began to be exhausted and slacken his pace. 

 This was the moment the hawk had been waiting for. She made a sudden 

 pounce, caught the bird in her talons, and carried him off. 



N 2 



