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any reference to the actions of the birds. Mr. Plomley 

 sends me word that two hundred dozens of Plovers 1 eggs 

 were sent from Romney Marsh to Dover in the season 

 of 1839 ; and that dogs are trained for the purpose of 

 finding the eggs. A slight depression in the ground, and a 

 few dried bents serve for a nest, in which, if not interfered 

 with, four eggs are generally deposited ; these are about 

 one inch eleven lines long, by one inch four lines in 

 breadth, of an olive-coloured ground, blotched and spotted 

 nearly all over with blackish brown. The young, when 

 hatched, are covered with a yellowish fawn-coloured down, 

 mixed and spotted with brownish black, and like the chicks 

 of the Dotterel and Ring Plover, with a light-coloured 

 collar round the neck. They soon follow the parent birds, 

 who lead them to the softer parts of the soil, where food is 

 more abundantly obtained. They feed on earth-worms, 

 slugs, and insects in their various stages. From their 

 services in this way, Peewits are frequently kept in gardens, 

 and become very interesting pets. Dr. Latham says, " I 

 have seen this bird approach a worm-cast, turn it aside, 

 and after walking two or three times about it, by way of 

 giving motion to the ground, the worm come out, and the 

 watchful bird, seizing hold of it, draw it forth. The habit 

 of the Peewit of flying and screaming over the head 

 of any one who happens to go near their eggs or young, 

 was productive formerly of two very opposite feelings 

 towards them. Charles Anderson, Esq., of Lea, near 

 Gainsborough, to whom I am indebted for many notes 

 on the Birds of Lincolnshire, sends me word that a very 

 ancient Lincolnshire family, the Tyrwhitts, bear three Pee- 

 wits for their arms ; and it is said, from a tradition, that it 

 was in consequence of the founder of their family having 

 fallen in a skirmish, woimded, and being saved by his fol- 



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