393 GRALLATORES. 



FIRST FAMILY. PLOVERS. (French pluvier, from Lat. phi- 

 vialis, rainy.) 



Charadriadce, (Gr. xaQadgibg, charadrios, a kind of bird, from 

 %aQ&aow t to excavate.) 



The Plovers are distinguished by having long and slender feet, 

 adapted for running ; the toes are rather short; the hind one is 

 either entirely wanting, or so short as not to reach the ground. 

 The wings are large and these birds are swift and strong in 

 flight, moving in circles somewhat after the manner of pigeons, 

 and wheeling round at no great height, uttering piping cries. 

 The head is thick, with large dark eyes placed far back ; the 

 beak short and often slightly notched ; the nostrils are pierced 

 in a long groove. Resorting to the sea-shore, with their beaks 

 they penetrate the ground for worms, to obtain which they are 

 said to stamp with their feet, causing the worms to rise. Those 

 with feebler bills resort to meadows and newly ploughed land, 

 where they can more readily obtain their food ; such as have 

 stronger bills also feed on grain, herbage, &c. The colors of 

 the Plovers are chaste and beautiful, consisting of various shades 

 of brown, mingled with yellow, white and black, and often dis 

 posed in bands. Many of them are active during the night. 

 The Plovers are dispersed over the entire globe. 



The LAPWING, or Pewit, Vanellm crislatus, is a beautiful spe 

 cies ; in summer spread over Europe and particularly plentiful 

 in Holland, but passing the winter in warm latitudes. The 

 plumage of the upper parts is green, with brilliant reflections; 

 of the under parts, pure white. In its winter dress, the male has 

 the head feathers very long, loose, barbed and curved upwards, 

 forming a sort of crest, which is glossy black. When flying, 

 the black and white colors of this bird make it very conspicu 

 ous. Sometimes thousands may be seen at once, gleaming in 

 the setting sun, or appearing like a dense, black, moving mass, 

 between its light and the spectator. 



The Lapwings are about as large as pigeons ; their eggs are 

 laid upon the bare ground, and esteemed a luxury for the table. 

 The Lapwing takes its name from the device by which it lures 

 away intruders from its nest, dropping its wings in flight, and 

 appearing as if wounded, to entice them away, and thus often 

 inducing them to follow to a considerable distance. This bird is 

 sometimes kept in gardens, and is useful for the destruction of 

 vermin. Another European species is 



The GREAT PLOVER, or Stone Curlew (of Europe,) (Edicne- 



