RINGED PLOVER. 179 



end of this month, it continues its journey to a 

 much higher latitude before it rests for the busi- 

 ness of nidification.* 



We dressed two of these birds for the table, and 

 found them exceedingly well-flavoured, and much 

 resembling the snipe. 



RINGED PLOVER.f 



GREAT quantities of these birds appeared in our 

 fens in the months of June and July 1824 ; but they 

 have not occurred since, to my knowledge. The 

 spring of that year was remarkably wet, so that a 

 considerable portion of our low lands were com- 

 pletely flooded. There were at the same time 

 several other species of water-birds observed there 

 in plenty, which had not been seen for many years, 

 and which were supposed to have quite deserted 

 our neighbourhood. Amongst them were ruffs and 

 reeves, godwits, redshanks, dunlins, and black 

 terns. The appearance of our fenny districts that 

 season, and the variety of birds that were attracted 

 thither, gave us some idea of the state in which 

 the fens habitually were in former times before 

 drainage and culture had done so much to alter 

 their character. 



* Since the date of the above observations, Mr. Heysham has 

 found this species breeding on the mountains of Cumberland. 

 According to his account, they vary much in the time of laying, 

 but the greater part are said seldom to commence before the first 

 or second week in June. See YarreWs Birds, vol. ii. p. 394. 



f Charadrius hiaticula, Linn. 



