282 OUTDOOR LIFE IN ENGLAND 



only regret that they were not better mounted, 

 for the plumage is very perfect. The birds were 

 feeding in a ploughed field, and I happened to be 

 on the flank of the line. I was much struck with 

 the indifference of the flock to my presence, rising 

 and settling again almost immediately, thereby 

 affording me every opportunity for approaching 

 them. On other occasions I have at times known 

 them very much the reverse, being wary and 

 difficult to come at. Although the food of the 

 golden plover is much of the same character as 

 that of the peewit, there is no comparison between 

 the value of the two birds from a gastronomic 

 point of view, the flesh of the latter bird being far 

 inferior and, in my opinion, never altogether free 

 from a somewhat strong and unpleasant flavour ; 

 that of the golden plover being equal, if not 

 superior, to that of any bird which finds a place 

 on the table. Colonel Irby states that he has 

 seen golden plover with black markings peculiar 

 to the summer plumage showing early in January, 

 and remaining till late in September. 



Taking the resident birds of this species in the 

 order in which I have named them, we come to 

 the ringed plover, or, as it is otherwise called, the 

 ringed dotterel, whereas the golden plover and 

 the peewit are more especially inland birds. The 

 ringed plover is most generally, though not in- 

 variably, to be found by the flat stretches of sea- 

 coast and salt-marshes. This is one of the 

 smallest of the plovers, being between seven and 



