PLOVERS. 379 



culty in turning this circumstance to your profit by filling your 

 game-bag. 



The Plover migrates from the North of Europe to Africa, and 

 vice versa ; it thus visits France twice a year, in spring and autumn. 

 It is their appearance at these usually rainy seasons which has 

 given them the name they bear. There are five principal species 

 the Great Land Plover, the Dotterel, the Ringed Dotterel, the 

 Kentish Plover, and the Golden Plover. 



The Great Land Plover ( Oidicnemus Bellonii, Fleming) is about 

 the size of a Crow ; it is very uncommon, very active, and very 

 suspicious in its nature. The only chance of shooting it is in 

 the evening, at the moment when it comes to wash itself on the 

 edges of lakes and rivers. Its flesh is not much valued. 



The Dotterel (Pluvialis morinellus) is a little larger than a 

 Blackbird. It visits us in March and September, and numerous 

 flocks of these birds frequent the vast plains of the beautiful 

 country of France. This is the bird which persists in sacrificing 

 itself to the sportsman's gun when its companion has fallen a 

 victim before the murderous weapon. It also shows the simplicity 

 of believing that drunken people must be animated with the 

 kindest feelings towards it ; so much so, that it is only requisite 

 to exhibit the outward signs of bacchanalian excitement, and the 

 birds will be filled with a sense of false security, so that you 

 may approach within a few yards of them. 



The Dotterel has been the means of founding the reputation of 

 the Pate de Chartres : the bird's own personal experience must 

 long ago have convinced it how heavy the burden of renown 

 sometimes proves. They have, in fact, found themselves so much 

 relished, that they have been tracked and hemmed in on all sides 

 by eager pie-makers. The only chance for the poor creature is 

 to seek safety in flight, and abandon a country where it is 

 decidedly too much loved. Without either regret or envy it 

 must have seen that Larks and Quails have usurped its place in 

 popular favour for filling pates. 



The Ringed Dotterel (Charadrius hiaticuld), Fig. 150, is about 

 half the size of the last bird. It is distinguished by its black 

 collar, and also by its extraordinarily brilliant and gold- coloured 

 eyes. In former days this bird had the credit of being able to 



