BIRDS OF PREY. 



The golden plovers and large dotterels are worth 

 more than all the others, either to shoot, or for the 

 table. The former, when in large flocks, are wild, 

 and must, therefore, be followed with caution ; the 

 latter are easier of access, though not so plentiful. 

 Golden plover were formerly killed in great plenty 

 by means of a stalking horse. If you fire at these 

 birds, as they fly over you, they will dart down for 

 the moment, and spread in every direction ; so that, 

 by taking a random shot with your first barrel, you 

 may often bring down the birds to a fair one for 

 your second. 



If admissible to bring together land and water 

 birds, we may add to this list, the 



LONG-LEGGED PLOVER, or LONGSHANKS. Charadrius 

 himantopus L'echasse. 



This plover, and the sanderling, Bewick places 

 by themselves, as a separate Genus, at the com- 

 mencement of his second volume. 



PREY, BIRDS OF. 



To shoot the various birds of prey, which belong 

 to the falcon tribe, such as buzzards, kites, hawks, 

 falcons, &c. &c., the easiest and most destructive 

 method is to watch the coppices in the breeding 

 season, or induce the boys, by a trifling reward, to 

 find out their nests. You should wait till the female 

 sits hard on her eggs ; and then go, late in the even- 

 ing, with some large shot in a duck gun ; by which 



