PLOVER'S EGGS. 193 



carried on more briskly in those breeding stations 

 which are moderately near to, or have a direct 

 communication with large towns, than in remoter 

 districts. Thus from Romney Marsh alone, two 

 hundred dozen were sent to Dover in 1839, the 

 greater portion of which probably found their 

 way to London. In that part of Kent the traffic 

 is so profitable that dogs are regularly trained to 

 hunt for the eggs, a practice which is not confined 

 to that county. In the remoter districts of Wales 

 and Ireland, however, I have frequently found lap- 

 wings during the summer, in the enjoyment of 

 perfect immunity from man. Among the upland 

 marshes in the unreclaimed portions of the latter 

 country, this species as well as the golden plover 

 and the common snipe, breed in considerable 

 numbers. Their grand enemy there appeared to 

 be the hooded crow, who was always on the watch 

 ready to pounce on any nest that might have 

 been momentarily quitted by its luckless owner, 

 and who frequently carried off his prize transfixed 

 on his beak, in spite of the loud cries and warlike 

 aerial manoeuvres of whole troops of peewits, who 

 eagerly combined in their efforts to expel the 

 common enemy. 



Like most birds of this class, the lapwing lays 

 but four eggs, which are usually deposited in a 

 slight depression on some partially elevated 



