114. SHOOTING, i 



will sometimes squat so closely to the ground as to suffer itself to 

 be taken up by the hand, and yet it will at times run with prodigious 

 s^^nftness. 



The Plovers and tlieir varieties. — These are a numerous family, 

 and are not destitute of interest to the sportsman. 



The Great Plover. {Charadrius (Edicnemus. Linn.)— Some 

 sporting writers call this the stone curlew, and Norfolk plover, and 

 consider it a diminutive type of the bustard. It is about sixteen 

 inches long, bill of a moderate length, eyes and eyelids of a pale 

 yellow hue, with a pale streak above and below, which forms a 

 very characteristic mark. The upper parts of the body are tawny- 

 brown, and on each feather there is a dark streak down the centre. 

 The fore part of the neck and breast are nearly of the same colour, 

 but much paler. The belly, thighs, and vent, are of a pale yello-wisa 

 white, and the quills are black. The tail is short and rounded, and' 

 a dark band crosses the middle of each feather. The tips are 

 black, and the rest white : the legs are yellow, and naked above 

 the knees, which are very thick, as if swollen, and its claws are 

 black. 



This bird is found in considerable numbers in Norfolk, and in 

 some of the more southern counties of England. It is not known ' 

 in the northern parts of the island. It frequents dry and stony 

 places, by the sides of sloping banks. It makes no nest ; the 

 female lays two or three eggs on thebare ground, sheltered by a 

 stone, or in some small hole formed in the sand. The eggs are of 

 a dirty-white colour, marked with deep red spots, mixed with 

 slight streaks. Although this bird has great power of wing, and j 

 flies with great strength, it is seldom seen during the day, except 

 it is surprised, when it springs to some distance, _ and commonly 

 makes its escape before the sportsrnan comes witliin gun-shot. It 

 runs along the ground nearly as swiftly as a dog. After running 

 some time, it stops short, holding its head and body still, and on 

 hearing the least noise it squats close on the ground. In the even- 

 ing it comes out in quest of food, and may then be heard at a great 

 distance. Its cry is singularly hoarse, and has been compared to 

 the turning of a rusty handle. Its food consists chiefly of worms. 

 It is said to be tender and savoury eating when young, but when 

 aged to be dry, hard, and black. In White's History of Selborne, 

 it is stated that the young run immediately from the nest almost as 

 soon as they are excluded, and that the female leads them to some 

 stony field, where they bask, skulking among the stones, wliich 

 they resemble so closely in colour as not easily to be discovered. 



This bird is migratory. It arrives in this country in April, and 

 remains all the spring and summer, and at the commencement of 

 autumn prepares to take leave by getting together in flocks. It is 

 supposed that these plovers retire to Spain, and frequent the 

 sheep-walks with which that comitry abounds. 



These birds are difficult to approach, and tantalize both tlie 

 gunner and his dog. We happen to loiow one sportsman who was 



