304 Poachers and Poaching. 



weather indulges in short local migrations from 

 the plashy meadows and uplands to the sea- 

 coast. Upon the approach of spring the flocks 

 break up and resort to their breeding-grounds. 

 These are usually at some elevation, and in the 

 north the bird builds at an altitude of one thousand 

 five hundred feet. Probably one of the reasons 

 of the plover's great abundance is the readiness 

 with which it adapts itself to local circumstance, 

 and the clever manner in which it conforms 

 to the environment in which it finds itself. 

 For although a great many birds may be found 

 breeding at a considerable elevation, numbers 

 nest in the sea marshes, among the plough and 

 upland fields, and along the marram-covered flats. 

 The lapwing is an early breeder, and eggs may 

 often be found by the middle of March. It is 

 these first captures which fetch such fancy prices 

 in the market, and as much as fifteen shillings 

 has been paid for a single egg. So anxious 

 are the poulterers to obtain these, that one of 

 them recently informed Mr. Howard Saunders 

 that if he were assured of having the first 

 ten eggs, he would not hesitate at giving five 

 pounds for them. Of course, as the season 

 advances the price rapidly decreases, and the 

 normal price per dozen when the supply be- 

 comes general is about five shillings. As an 

 instance of the difficulty which an untrained eye 

 has in detecting the eggs of the green plover 



