200 OUR BIRD ALLIES. 
powers of mischief to the ringdove, it partly redeems 
its character by flashes, as it were, of usefulness, and 
so deserves a word or two of passing mention. Curtis, 
in his invaluable work on ‘‘ Farm Insects,”’ records 
an instance in which no less than 1,225 grubs of the 
daddy-long-legs—that pest in pasture-lands—were 
taken from the crop of a pheasant— unassailable 
evidence that the bird, though “‘stained with a thou- 
sand crimes,” is yet redeemed from utter abandon- 
ment by at least one compensating virtue. There can 
be no doubt, however, that, as far as agriculture is 
concerned, we should do better without the pheasant. 
MicratTory bird though it be, and occurring but 
rarely in the more northern parts of England, the 
Great Plover, Norfolk Plover, Thick-knee, or Stone 
Curlew, as it 1s variously called, is nevertheless well 
worthy to take rank among our beneficial birds, more 
especially as its services seem to be qualified by no 
mischievous depredations. 
The bird is a strange one ; strange to look upon, 
and stranger still in its habits. Daylight is dis- 
tasteful to it, and it is seldom to be seen until night 
has set in. As soon as the shades of evening have 
fallen, however, it issues from its retirement, and then 
seems to continue busily at work during the greater 
part of the night. Frequently may its strange half- 
human, whistle-like cry be heard by the belated way- 
farer, now above him, now to one side and now to the 
other, proceeding from an invisible source, and re- 
calling to his mind tales of earth-bound spirits 
