THE PLOVERS. 



349 



The Plovers (Charadrius) have a bill closely resembling that of 

 the Lapwing, but differ from the latter by having a back toe, which is 

 absent altogether in the Plovers ; they are, however, closely con- 

 nected. Like the Lapwing, they frequent low-lying marshy lands 

 in numerous flocks, feeding on worms and insects. They are also 

 remarkable for the attention they pay to keeping their plumage tin- 

 soiled. Between this family and the last described exists such good 





Fig. 140. Lapwing. 



feeling that they often are found feeding and even migrating together. 

 But they do not follow out their resemblance to the Lapwings so far 

 as to imitate them in behaving as good fathers of families, for they 

 understand life in quite another fashion ; fidelity in love is not a 

 virtue they believe in, thus they practise polygamy. 



One might well fancy that a bird of such low morality would not 

 be easily affected by the misfortunes of its fellows, and that it would 

 be endowed with no feelings but those of utter selfishness. But 

 nothing of the sort. If you wound a Plover in company with others, 

 the whole flock will come back to render the disabled one all the 



