94 THE SWAN AND HER CREW. 



with sharp noses, and bright black eyes. Dick insisted on 

 buying one. 



" We cannot have it on board with the hawks," said Frank. 



" But I shall send it home by the carrier from Lowestoft," 

 answered Dick. 



They walked along the shores of Lake Loth ing to Lowestoft, 

 and went and had a bathe. Then they walked along the cliffs 

 towards Pakefield, and while crossing a sandy spot Dick dis- 

 covered a ringed plover's nest. There were three eggs, cream- 

 coloured, and blotched with brown. They were simply laid in a 



\ 



RINGED-PLOVEK. 



hole in the sand. They saw the old birds running along the shore 

 before-the wind, as is their habit, and looking very pretty with 

 their grey beaks, and white stomachs, and black collars. On 

 the shore they also saw some oyster catchers, with their 

 plumage nearly all black, except a white belt, and white bars 

 on their wings ; and also a pair of redshanks, with their long 

 red legs and bills, and French grey plumage ; but although 

 their nests are common enough in Suffolk (in which county our 

 boys now were), they failed to find their eggs. The redshanks 

 nest on the ground in marshy places, and lay eggs of a great 



