42 HABITS OF BIRDS. 



league's distance from each other. There is one in 

 the flock who is looked upon and acknowledged as 

 master, or king. His voice is louder than the others, 

 and well-known, and is their signal for congregating. 

 The peasants name him the caller, and pretend to 

 distinguish him by his notes being longer than those 

 of the rest. At his rising he utters a cry resembling 

 The bien huit. The peasants on the frontiers, who 

 go in bands, assemble in the evening, where they have 

 heard the king plover, and where they may find him 

 at dawn ; and having set out before day, some here 

 and some there, scattering themselves about over the 

 corn lands, they wait till day-break, and when they 

 hear the whistle of the king, which may be heard at 

 a league's distance, calling his company together, 

 they make straight towards him, being certain that 

 the whole covey will repair to the same place. The 

 plover is not so early a bird as the partridge, the lark, 

 or the lapwing ; but rises soon after dawn. And 

 when the plovers of the flock have heard the notes 

 of their caller they immediately hasten to him. If 

 by chance, also, two flocks are upon the plain, and 

 mixed together, the plovers will distinguish the cries 

 of their king and make towards him. When day 

 appears the peasants assemble, and report to each 

 other what they have heard, and resolve what they 

 shall do. Then the company depart, marching in 

 battle array and keeping the same road. But when 

 they approach the spot where the plovers are en- 

 camped, they spread into an arch or crescent, and as 

 they advance attentively look before them to ascertain 

 all they can of the covey which is around its caller. 

 Each peasant carries a long pole, and one or two 

 among them bear the ' harnois,' or net, to take the 

 plovers, which they have observed in the level plain. 

 And the peasants knowing that plovers are ex- 

 ceedingly timid, stretch the net as near them as they 



