226 WITH THE WOODLANDERS. 



the general habits of the bird are plover-like. 

 Nature has no violent breaks in her perfect system. 

 The great bustard, the little bustard, and the stone- 

 curlew lead down to the plovers ; if you look at 

 them closely they seem to be near akin. When I 

 see a bustard, in my own mind I always class him 

 as a giant plover. 



This may not be a new thought ; many others 

 may have had the same ideas as I have on this 

 question. Only sometimes, when I am looking at 

 the few stray feathers that I own, the desire will 

 come that some day a not far distant one I hope, 

 if I am to see it some things may be made yet a 

 little clearer than they are at present. 



