280 STONE CURLEW. 



Plover from its being found most abundantly on the 

 sandy plains of Norfolk and Suffolk, particularly near 

 the sea coast. It is a summer visitor to us from May 

 to September, and strictly a local one ; breeding in 

 some of the southern and midland counties, in addition 

 to the eastern ones. It frequents downs, commons 

 and sheep-walks ; the bare uncultivated districts are 

 its haunts, and it is never found in wooded parts. 



Unfortunately, this bird is undoubtedly, year by 

 year, becoming scarcer in this country, and its days 

 seem numbered. Mr. Ogilvie writes in the Zoologist, 

 1891, p. 441 : "A few years ago the district of which 

 I write had twenty pairs where now scarcely one can 

 be found, and this notwithstanding the fact that, ex- 

 cept in a few instances, they have not been persecuted 

 or molested. This, I believe, is partially owing to the 

 larger number of cattle kept on the heathy commons 

 or moorlands to which they resort, and which, no 

 doubt, with their attendant herdsmen, disturb and 

 frighten them, and also to the destruction of their 

 eggs by Rooks. The amount of damage a Rook does 

 during the ' egging time ' is simply incalculable. No- 

 thing in the shape of eggs comes curious to him 

 fresh, rotten, or just on the point of hatching ; all 

 are devoured. I have watched Rooks early in April 

 hunting the meadows for the unfortunate Peewit's 

 eggs, quartering the ground with the regularity of 

 well-trained setters ; and again in May, in the early 

 mornings, searching the commons and hedgerows for 

 Partridges' nests. When once a nest is found, woe 

 to the owner thereof, for the robber does his work 

 thoroughly, and leaves behind him but a few egg- 

 shells. The eggs are generally carried away to a 

 distance, but I have seen Peewits' eggs sucked in 



