PLOVERS. 259 



like a dense black moving mass between its light 

 and the spectator." * 



The eggs of this bird are nearly two inches 

 long, of an olive hue, spotted all over with blotches 

 of brown. Four are laid, in some slight depres- 

 sion of the ground, on which a few blades of dried 

 grass form the only nest. These eggs are well 

 known as an esteemed luxury for the table, and 

 may be seen in the shops of the London poulterers 

 in great numbers in the months of April and May. 

 The flat and low counties around the metropolis 

 afford the chief supply to this market ; and the 

 trade of collecting them affords employment to 

 many individuals during the season. " Great ex- 

 pertness in the discovery of the nests is shewn by 

 those accustomed to it, who generally judge of 

 their situation by the conduct of the female birds, 

 which invariably, upon being disturbed, run from 

 the eggs, and then fly near to the ground for a 

 short distance, without uttering any alarm-cry. 

 The males, on the contrary, are very clamorous, 

 and fly round the intruder, endeavouring, by va- 

 rious instinctive arts to divert his attention. So 

 expert have some men become, that they will not 

 only walk straight towards a nest, which may be 

 at a considerable distance, but tell the probable 

 number of eggs it may contain, previous to in- 

 spection; generally judging of the situation and 

 number of eggs by the conduct of the female 

 bird. In some counties, however, all the most 

 likely ground is carefully searched for eggs once 

 every day, by women and children, without any 

 reference to the actions of the birds, "f Dogs 

 are also trained to search for the eggs. 



* Nat. Lib. ORNITHOLOGY, iii. 282. f Yon-ell's Brit. Birds, ii. 482. 



