194; GOLDEN PLOVER, LESSER PLOVER, AND AVOSETTE, 

 THE GOLDEN PLOVER, 



During the winter, this elegant bird frequents our moors 

 and heaths in small flocks. Its length is eleven inches, 

 and the expansion of its wings twenty-four. The head, 

 back, and coverts of the wings are black, beautifully 

 spotted with light yellowish green ; the breast is brown, 

 marked with greenish oblong strokes ; and the belly is 

 white. This bird makes a shrill whistling noise, and may 

 be enticed within a shot, by a skilful imitation of its note. 

 It breeds on unfrequented mountains, and is very common 

 in the western islands of Scotland. 



THE LESSER PLOVER, OR DOTTREL. 



This is one of the smallest among the plover genus, of 

 which there are various species. It inhabits Lincolnshire, 

 Cambridgeshire, and Derbyshire, where it is migratory : 

 appearing in small flocks about the end of April, and re- 

 maining till the middle of June; during which period it 

 becomes extremely fat, and is esteemed delicious food. 

 In April and September it is likewise seen on the downs 

 of Wilts and Berks ; but its winter-retreat is unknown, as 

 well as its breeding-place. 



The dottrel, as it is generally called, is an extremely 

 simple bird : and is sometimes taken in the night by candle- 

 light. If the fowler stretches out an arm, the bird will, in 

 return, expand one of its wings ; if he moves a foot, it will 

 do the same ; in short, the silly creature imitates its insidi- 

 ous enemy to the utmost of its power, while he is busied in 

 spreading the net for its destruction. However, since the 

 universal introduction of fire-arms, this slow mode of 

 catching dottrels has nearly grown into disuse. 



THE AVOSETTE. 



This bird, which is a native of Italy, and occasionally 

 visits the English shores, is somewhat larger than the lap- 

 ping. The beak is about two inches long, slender, flatted, 



