1 62 THE PLOVERS. 



structure. Long-leggedness is almost the only com- 

 mon feature. They are divided into five Tribes, and 

 these again into many Families. The First Tribe 

 contains the Ostrich and Emu and other giant fowls, 

 whose wings are reduced to stumps for growing 

 feathers to ornament ladies' hats. These are the 

 Cursores, or Runners, of some authors. Next come 

 the Bustards, Floricans, Plovers, and all that lot, 

 which also run well, but can fly too. Like the Ostrich, 

 they have no hind toe. As they never perch on trees, 

 or anywhere else, a hind toe would be a superfluity. 

 They all lay their eggs on the ground, and the young 

 run as soon as they are hatched. In this Tribe there 

 are some which must be noticed here. The Lapwing, 

 Peewit, or Plover, which has the misfortune to lay 

 fashionable eggs in England, is not found here, but it 

 has a near relation which is one of our most familiar 

 birds. It has no crest, but on its cheeks there are 

 two bright red lappets, like the wattles of a cock, and 

 Jerdon calls it the Red-wattled Lapwing (Lobivanelhts 

 goensis). It is a greenish-brown bird with a good 

 deal of black and white upon it. The head is black, 

 with the throat, down to the upper part of the breast. 

 Below this the under parts, with the lining of the 

 wings, are pure white, as you see when it flies. But 

 why should I describe the Lapwing? It needs no 

 description and wants no introduction. It introduces 

 itself to you ; impresses itself on you ; dins itself 

 into you. Where it sprang from, I cannot tell, but 

 there it is in the air, circling round and round, now 

 far, now very near, now high, now low, now seeming 

 to go, but wheeling round and coming swiftly back 

 again ; for it will not go. And all the time it is 



