300 THE WILD-FOWLER. 



day-break, and an hour or so later, when they are less wild, and 

 may be risen on the marshes within range of gunshot ; whenever 

 plovers are observed on the wing, near by, they are very likely to 

 pass close to the sportsman, if he stands quite still. As they are 

 generally in a closely-packed flight at that time, a good number may 

 sometimes be killed at a single discharge. 



Golden plovers are frequently found in fields and uplands during 

 the day : indeed, a great portion of their time is spent in ploughed 

 fields and inland meadows. 



The punter should keep a sharp look-out for plovers, when rowing 

 near the shore : they are often passed by unobserved, when feeding 

 and running about in the surf, or by the brink of the water, on a 

 beach of small shingle. 



It is said to be a sign of bad weather when plovers are very rest- 

 less : they fly to and fro, shrieking as if in dismay at some 

 incontrovertible danger. 



They are to a certain extent migratory, usually arriving about our 

 coasts towards the end of October. They are much more abundant at 

 some seasons than at others, though not, apparently, in actual accord- 

 ance with the severity of winter ; for they are sometimes as numerous 

 in mild winters as hard ones. Grey plovers are not generally so 

 abundant as others, though often found in great numbers. These 

 are more exclusively coast-birds, and seldom visit fields and up- 

 lands. 



The lapwing, or pewit, is the bird so famous for its eggs, 

 which in some places are of more value, as a marketable com- 

 modity, than the birds themselves. The plundering of their nests 

 with so much avidity, has tended materially to diminish the numbers 

 of these beautiful birds, which used to breed in thousands about the 

 English fens and marshes. They have curious artifices for endea- 

 vouring to mislead intruders as to the whereabouts of their nests, 

 flying round and round with much clamour, and pretending to hover 

 over a particular spot ; which is never known to be the place where 

 their nest actually is situated, but always many yards apart from it. 

 The call-note of the lapwing is very simple, expressing most distinctly 

 the word " pee- wit!" 



In some parts of Scotland, the lapwing is spoken of as a treacherous 

 bird, and is looked upon with detestation by the inhabitants, because of 

 having been the means of betraying the fugitive Presbyterians during 



