284 CHARADRIIDiE. 



mode of flight, — a slow flapping of its rounded wings ; the 

 second name having reference to the frequently-repeated 

 note of the hird, which the sound of the word i^eeweet 

 closely resembles. The French, in imitation of the sound 

 of its note, call this bird dix-huit. This species, like the 

 rest of the Plovers, inhabits marshy ground near lakes 

 and rivers, wild heaths and commons, or the hills of an 

 open unenclosed country. In such localities it is often very 

 numerous, and during the months of April and May its 

 eggs are sought after as a luxury for the table in all the 

 districts where the birds are common. The earliest eggs 

 fetch such fancy prices as fifteen shillings apiece : and a 

 leading West-End poulterer recently informed the Editor 

 that if he were assured of having the first ten eggs he would 

 not hesitate to give £5 for them. As the supply increases, 

 the value falls rapidly, until it reaches 4s. 6d. per dozen, 

 which is the average London price in the season. Pennant 

 in 1776 quoted them at three shillings, and Daniel in 1812 

 at four shillings a dozen, so that, considering the relative 

 value of money, the price is now lower than it was a century 

 ago. The marshes of Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Cambridge- 

 shire, Essex, and Kent, aff'ord some portion of the quantity 

 with which the London market is supplied ; but the Con- 

 tinent furnishes the larger part. Selby says, " The trade of 

 collecting them continues for about two months ; and great 

 expertness in the discovery of the nests is shown by those 

 accustomed to it; generally judging of their situation by the 

 conduct of the female birds, who invariably, upon being 

 disturbed, run from the eggs, and then fly near to the 

 ground for a short distance, without uttering any alarm cry. 

 The males, on the contrary, are very clamorous, and fly 

 round the intruder, endeavouring, by various instinctive arts, 

 to divert his attention." On this subject, also, J. D. Salmon 

 observed, " So expert have some men become, that they will 

 not only walk straight towards a nest, which may be at a 

 considerable distance, but tell the probable number of eggs 

 it may contain, previous to inspection ; generally judging of 

 the situation and number of eggs by the conduct of the 



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