146 FAMILIAR WILD BIRDS. 



localities which are much resorted to b^ these birds, and 

 here they breed in hirg*e numbers. 



Mr. Yarrell says that when visiting Hastings in 1833 

 he was informed that the eggs of the Kentish Plover were 

 in great demand as a table delicacy, and that dogs were 

 trained to find them for the collectors. 



The Kentish Plover takes no trouble to construct a 

 nest, a slight depression or hollow in the shingle or sand 

 being considered all that is necessary. As a rule, four eggs 

 are laid ; they are about one inch and a quarter in length, 

 the grounding of a pale yellowish stone colour, marked all 

 over with streaks and spots of brownish-black, the markings 

 being thicker around the base. 



The bird is seldom found on the nest, for, like all its 

 tribe, it runs directly it is approached, and does not take 

 flight until at some distance from the nest. 



The eggs may easily be found if the bird is watched 

 through a good field-glass. 



The food of the Kentish Plover consists principally of 

 marine insects, Crustacea, and worms. These birds asso- 

 ciate frequently with Ring Plovers, and feed freely with 

 them ; on these occasions, however, if disturbed and put to 

 flight, the Kentish Plovers invariably keep in a flock 

 by themselves. 



It has been already noticed that these birds frequent 

 the sea coast, and it is only in exceptional cases that they 

 are seen on the banks of rivers, as is the case with the 

 Ring Plover. Occasionally, during very high tides or 

 violent gales of wind, they retire to the fields or low-lying 

 marshes contiguous to the coast, but only for a short 

 time. 



When the bird is alarmed it has a very noticeable 



