200 BRITISH BIRDS* EGGS. 



to scare him from its territory, have often won our admira- 

 tion. It is an abundant species throughout the British 

 Islands, during the autumn and winter frequenting our 

 shores in search of food, but with the spring, generally 

 retiring inland to moors, commons, downs, and meadows 

 to breed. The nest, often placed upon some gentle emi- 

 nence, is very slight, consisting at most of a small quantity 

 of dry grass, rushes, stalks of heath, or other plants, placed 

 in a hollow scratched for that purpose; and the eggs, four in 

 number, are generally of an umber-tinted ground, blotched 

 with grey and brown, and of a pear-shaped form. Great 

 quantities of these eggs are collected for the table, and are 

 discovered by dogs trained to seek the nests, which they 

 hunt by scent, making a point as if at game, until the 

 " egg-man" comes up. 



THE GREY PLOVER. Squatarola cinerea. During the 

 winter this bird is found in all the temperate countries of 

 Europe and Asia, retiring in summer to the regions of the 

 Arctic Circle, to breed. In our own country it is met with, 

 chiefly along the shores, in spring, autumn, and winter, but 

 especially, perhaps, during the former seasons while passing 

 to and fro on its more extended migrations. We are not 

 aware of any authentic record of its breeding with us ; and 



