BIRDS. 34.9 



their station ; so also are they equally swift of wing, and traverse 

 immense tracts of country without much fatigue. 



It has been thought by some, that a part of this class lived upon 

 an oily slime, found in the bottoms of ditches and of weedy 



ingtoageand sex. Some species have spines, which serve as defensive 

 weapons, attacliod to their wings ; some others Iiave flesliy appendages at 

 the base of the bill. Tlie plovers emigrate every year, in Hocks of greater 

 or less numbers, and this principally takes place in autumn, during the 

 rainy season, whence their French name [plutners] is derived, and of which 

 our word plover is an obvious corruption. At this time they are seen in the 

 greatest abundance. They do not remain quiet when on the ground, but 

 are seen in incessant motion. They fly in an extended file, or in transverse 

 zones, very narrow and of a groat length. Their flesh is delicate and much 

 esteemed. They are frequently taken, in great quantities, in the coun- 

 tries where they are common, by means of nets variously fabricated. 



Of these, the first and most common is the Golden Plotter. This bird 

 frequents humid and marshy grounds. In winter it is very common on 

 the coasts of France and Holland. It is found in England during the eu 

 tire year ; it is also very abundant in the Highlands of Scotland, in the 

 Western Islands, and in the Isle of Man. It is again found in America, in 

 Asia, and in the islands of the Soxith Soa. Throughout the north of Europe 

 it is common, and in all parts of Germany, Italy, and Spain. From the lat- 

 ter country we trace it into Barbary, and other parts of Africa ; and it is to 

 be found as far to the south-east of Asia, as India, China, and the Archipe- 

 lago of the Eastern Ocean. These birds lay from three to five eggs, of rather 

 an olive-green colour, with black spots. They live on worms, insects, and 

 larvae. There is very little difl'erence in appearance between the male and 

 female. 



These plovers strike the earth with their feet to cause the worms, &c., to 

 issue from their retreat. In the morning, like the lapwings and the snipes, 

 they visit the water side to wash their bills and feet. They are rarely seen 

 longer than twenty-four hours in the same place, which doubtless proceeds 

 from their numbers, which cause a rapid exhaustion of their means of sub. 

 sistence in any given spot. They migrate from the districts which they in- 

 habit when the snow falls and the frost begins to be intense, as their re- 

 sources of provision are then cut off, and they are deprived of the water, 

 wluch their constitution renders indispensable to them. It is very rare to 

 see a golden plover alone, and Belon tells us that the smallest flocks in which 

 they fly amount at leivst to fifty each. When they are seeking their food, 

 several of them act as sentinels, and on the appearance of any danger, set 

 up a shrill cry, as a warning to the others, and a signal for flight. These flocks 

 disperse in the evening, and each individual passes the night apart ; but at 

 the dawn of day, the first that awakes gives a cry of appeal to the rest, 

 which inunediately re-a-ssemble on this call. This cry is imitated by the 

 fowlers to draw these birds into their nets. Tlie flesh of these plovers is in 

 high estimation, in general, though the peculiarity of its flavour does not 

 equally please every palate. It is best when the birds are rather fat than 

 otherwise. 

 The Dotterel Ploecr — The length of this bird is about nine inches. Its 

 ni. 2 u 



