PLOVERS 23 



year. The local names of Ring Plover, Sand Lark, 

 Sandy Laverock, Stone-hatch, and Stone Plover are 

 most appropriate, each in its way. 



Sandy warrens just off the tide are favourite 

 nesting haunts ; it would be almost impossible to 

 give a correct idea of this broken ground, which 

 is tenanted by rabbits that swarm on the shingle 

 of the beach to feed, when the night comes on, on 

 the washed-up sea-weed. Sandy bits there are 

 littered with pebbles, vicious little blackthorns that 

 catch you and trip you up, if not very careful in 

 your movements, mixed up with furze and brambles. 

 These are the spots most favoured by the Sand Lark ; 

 for on such bare sandy spots as abound here the 

 eggs are deposited. Unless the birds fly up just 

 in front of you, as you make your way along, it is 

 impossible to see them, so very closely does their 

 plumage fall in with their surroundings. 



No bird that I am acquainted with shows more 

 anxiety for its eggs and young than the bird under 

 notice. It is this extreme anxiety that betrays their 

 presence ; you hear a plaintive whistle, and the bird 

 flits in front of you, settles down, and pipes. There 

 it is, you can see it now as plainly as if you had it 

 in your hand. It runs a yard or two away, then 

 turns and comes towards you as if it meant to run 

 close up to your feet ; stops short, looks at you 

 intently with its full dark eyes, and pipes softly, as 

 if to say, " Don't come any nearer." But we do, 

 for we feel inclined to see some perfect acting on 

 this proficient little creature's part. 



