244 GAME. 



mounted on a pair of long stilts of legs, causing the 

 beholder to wonder how they could possibly have been 

 disposed inside of an egg-shell, much too short for either 

 joint to have been developed when straight. The period 

 of incubation is very short, and they arrive at maturity 

 with wonderful rapidity, so that early in July the young 

 birds are ready for the sportsman. At this time they 

 furnish excellent sport, and are to my taste the most 

 delicious bird that ever tickled the palate of a gourmand. 

 In July and August all, old and young, are mere lumps 

 of fat of most exquisite flavour, far surpassing canvas- 

 back, reed bird, or the most delicate tit-bit of any bird 

 that flies or swims. 



Some few years ago I went on a short exploring ex- 

 pedition, accompanied by an officer very appreciative of 

 all the good things of life. It was in August, and our 

 table was daily loaded with most delicious birds young 

 turkeys, ducks, goose, quail, and plover. The officer was 

 devoted to quail ; and when I urged him to try plover, 

 extolling its superior excellence, he invariably replied, 

 ' No, I thank you ; quail is good enough for me.' One 

 day it happened that we had no quail, and he concluded 

 to try plover, which he had never yet tasted. Pulling 

 off the little lump of fat which served the bird as a leg, 

 he placed it in his mouth. In a moment he looked at 

 me earnestly and rather reproachfully, and said, with 

 emotion, ' I wish some one would kick me.' ' Why ? ' I 

 asked. ' Because,' he replied, in despondent tones, ' I 

 have for a week past been eating quail, when I might 

 have had plover e\ery day.' 



The plover is not, properly speaking, a game bird, 

 though it has the game scent. It does not lie to the dog, 

 nor squat, nor attempt to hide. It runs well, and, when 

 approached too nearly, takes to flight. Immediately on 

 alighting it has a pretty and graceful manner of 

 stretching its wings upward and together until they 

 almost touch, before settling them in their places. 



