212 PLOVER SHOOTING. 



situation. It must be observed, however, that 

 both in frosty and in wet weather vast numbers 

 of plover are to be found on our coasts ; but, 

 although they appear to be the same in kind 

 as those on the mountain, they certainly are 

 not the same on the dish. When on the 

 coast the golden plover are generally accom- 

 panied by the lapwing, also a species of plover, 

 but a bird not comparable to its relatives for 

 the sport it affords, or the addition it makes 

 to a bill of fare, unless, indeed, its eggs are 

 counted in the latter estimate. Wary as the 

 golden plover are, the lapwing are twice as 

 cautious. They will give a queer squeak or 

 bleat of warning to the former, resembling no 

 other noise made by a bird that we know of. 

 To approach plover on the coast a duck punt 

 is almost indispensable, and we should also re- 

 commend a duck gun charged with number 

 six. Two fowlers are better than one in this 

 case, as the birds, when fired at, are almost 

 sure to make a cast for the land, and a chance 

 is then presented to a second gun stationed 

 behind some fen, ditch, or dyke. Of course 

 the second gun should be the more convenient 



