THE BIRDS OF WILTSHIRE. 



WATER BIRDS. 



CHAPTER X. 

 GRALLATORES (WADERS). 



IT might be supposed at first sight that, in a county so deficient 

 in large sheets of water as ours confessedly is, the fourth great 

 Order of birds, comprising the Waders, would be but scantily 

 represented. When, however, it is considered that a large pro- 

 portion of this numerous class is apt at certain periods of the 

 year not only to retire inland, but to frequent large open plains, 

 however distant from lakes and rivers, as well as secluded 

 valleys, watered by diminutive streams, it is evident that our 

 wide-spreading downs, and the rich valleys which intersect and 

 border them, offer attractions sufficiently tempting to many of 

 this Order, and the consequence is that the list of Wiltshire 

 Waders is by no means a scanty or a meagre one. 



This class of birds may be said to occupy a middle space 

 between the Ground birds last described, which are truly terres- 

 trial, and the next Order, which contains the Swimmers, or true 

 Waterfowl. The Waders known in the British Isles are com- 

 prised within six families, the Plovers, the Cranes, the Herons, the 

 Snipes, the Rails, and the little family of Lobe-footed birds ; and 

 in this list we shall again remark the gradual advancement 

 towards the true water-birds : those which stand at the head of 

 the list being in many respects nearly related to the game-birds 



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