OTHEE VARIETIES OF THE PLOVER. 235 



abundantly, and in many other of the eastern and 

 southern shires, as well as in Lincolnshire, but not 

 far north. It is found in Ireland, as also is the true 

 plover; the latter in the greatest abundance. 



This bird, also indifferently termed Stone Curlew, 

 is of nocturnal habits, — the large, round, prominent 

 ball of the eye, proving its capacity for night prowl- 

 ing. It breeds occasionally in the fallows, makes a 

 nest in shingly hollows, on the bare ground, and picks 

 up its food somewhat promiscuously from the ground, 

 the water, and the marsh, — worms, reptiles, and even 

 small mammalia. It is a finely marked bird, of rich 

 greenish brown and yellow, with white and cream 

 yellows underneath ; base of bill bright yellow, ex- 

 tremity black ; legs very long, and greenish yeUow ; 

 pure white under the throat; mider quills of wings 

 with much white ; round the bare space of the eyes 

 bright yellow. 



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