194 GOLDEN PLOVER. 



39. PLOVER TRIBE. 



Although the Plovers are classed by Linnaeus amongst 

 the waders, many of the species seem to partake more of 

 the nature of land than water-birds. Some of them fre- 

 quent and breed on the heaths and moors. 



Dotterel. It is stated of these birds, that they are so 

 little fearful of the approach of mankind, and so much 

 inclined to mimic actions and gestures which they 

 observe, that they are sometimes to be caught by the 

 simplest stratagem imaginable. It is said, that if the 

 fowler goes in pursuit of them in the night, by the light 

 of a lantern, and stretches out his arm, the bird stretches 

 out its wing : if he moves his foot, it holds up one of 

 its legs ; the man has thus an opportunity to approach 

 and spread his net, for the purpose of ensnaring the 

 silly bird. This method has, however, longfoen disused, 

 as these birds are to be shot with much less trouble. Dot- 

 terels are chiefly found in Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire, 

 and Derbyshire, and generally in small flocks of eight or 

 ten. They are reckoned in best season for the table about 

 the beginning of June, at which time they are generally 

 very fat. 



They are about ten inches in length. The plumage is 

 varied, and differs considerably in the male and female. 

 The principal characteristics, however, are, the breast fer- 

 ruginous, a white band over the eyes, and a white line on 

 the breast. The legs are black. 



Golden Plover. In several of the mountainous and 

 unfrequented parts of Great Britain, these beautiful birds 

 are found during the breeding-season. They form their 

 nests on the ground, and lay four eggs, of a dirty 



