494 BUSTARDS. CHARADRIAD^, OR PLOVERS. 



the skin on the fore-part of the neck ; having an entrance to it 

 under the tongue ; this pouch is of considerable dimensions, 

 being capable of holding seven or eight pints of water ; its use 

 is unknown. The Little Bustard, which also is a native of 

 Britain (though now, like the preceding, a rare Bird), is not 

 above one-third of the dimensions of the preceding; and its 

 wings are shorter in proportion. Other species of Bustards are 

 found in Africa and India ; some of them closely allied to those 

 just described ; whilst others partake of the characters of the 

 next family. 



445. In the comprehensive family of CHARADRIADJE, or 

 Plovers, the legs are long, the toes short, the hinder one small or 

 altogether wanting (Fig. 207), and the wings long and powerful. 

 The bill is short, and arched towards the tip ; its covering is soft 

 at the base, but hard at the extremity. These Birds chiefly 

 frequent sandy unsheltered shores, and exposed commons or 

 moors. They congregate in flocks, and run with great swiftness ; 

 many of them are nocturnal in their habits. They belong, for 

 the most part, to the Old World ; and are abundant in temperate 

 climates. Of the true Plovers, we have a good example in the 

 Golden Plover, which is a Bird of Passage, spread over Europe, 

 Western Asia, and portions of North Africa. It breeds in various 

 parts of the British Isles ; but it is only found in the southern 

 districts during the winter, at which time its numbers are much 

 increased by arrivals from northern latitudes. As in the Bustards, 

 the winter livery differs considerably from the summer ; being 

 lighter in tint, and less varied. The flight of this species is rapid 

 and vigorous, and, during the spring and summer, is usually at 

 a greater elevation ; and the Bird is frequently seen in the air 

 performing the most graceful evolutions as it sails round and 

 round. It takes its repose during the day ; and goes forth at 

 night in search of its food, which consists of insects, larvae, slugs, 

 worms, &c. For these it frequents fallow lands in the autumn, 

 and then becomes very fat ; in which state it is much esteemed 

 as a luxury for the table. The Plover associates in pairs during 

 the breeding season ; but at other times indiscriminately in large 

 flocks. The eggs are usually deposited in the neighbourhood of 



