164 



THE GAMEKEEPER AT HOME. 



where the grass is very rough, and interspersed with 

 bunches of rushes, marshy places, and meadows liable to 

 be flooded in the winter. The nest on the ground is often 

 made in the depression left by a horse's hoof in the soft 



PLOVERS NEST. 



earth any slight hole, in fact ; and it is so concealed, or 

 rather differs so little from the appearance of the general 

 sward around, as to be easily passed unnoticed. You 

 may actually step on it, and so smash the eggs, before you 

 see it. 



Aware that the most careful observation may fail to 



