THE PLOVERS. 213 



ally prove too much for him, eluding all his attempts 

 to gain access to them. 



Prominent among the many attractive objects which 

 may engage the attention of the young naturalist, 

 while tarrying by the sea-side, are those active and 

 beautiful little creatures, the Plovers and Sand Pi- 

 pers. The species which frequent the whole line of 



Sand I'ijjer. 



our sea-coast are quite numerous, and the study of 

 their habits would alone afl'ord entertainment and oc- 

 cupation for nearly a whole season. See how beau- 

 tiful and graceful are their motions as they course 

 along the sand, stopping to examine the shells which 

 the tide in its recess has left upon the beach, or fol- 

 lowing the retreating breakers to pick up the minute 

 shell-fish borne in by the wave. 



Among these we can hardly fail to notice the Ring 

 Plover, Wilson's Plover, and the Piping Plover, — 

 the latter a most beautiful, active, and lovely little 



