PLATE XLIII. 
The Green Plover. 
The Female here delineated is fomething fraaller than the Male Bird and diiFers in colour, 
difplaying great effeminacy about its head, — the feathers which grow from the top of it are not fo 
long as thofe of the Male. It has been afferted by thofe who profefs to underfland Birds in general, 
that this bird has no hinder claw, which aflertion is erroneous ; for it has that claw, though it is not 
fo long as to reach the ground when the bird walks. It commonly vifits us early in the Summer, 
and inhabits the fallow fields and marfhy grounds, the former of which it makes choice of to depo- 
fite its eggs in and, which it does in fome hole by the fide of a clod or bawk, for they build no neft. 
They lay four eggs which are large in proportion to the bird. The young ones run as foon as they 
are hatched, and afliftin providing food, but being unable to fly the old bird is much difturbed for 
their fafety; when any one appears fhe has a voice or call which they know, and immediately fculk, 
and being the colour of the dirt they are not eafily found. The Old Bird will purfue the fuppofed 
enemy, hovering over them, and partly flapping them with her wings until fhe is fure her young are 
out of danger ; (he then alights, and feems apparently fatisfied, attentively watching the enemy's 
, departure before fhe returns to her little care: the befl way to find them is with a fpaniel dog. 
When the breeding feafon is over they appear in great flocks on the marfhy grounds, and frequently 
fly in the night, at which time alfo they are to be found on the lands : they continue with us till the 
winter is advanced : The young ones do not come to their colour the firft year, which renders the 
diftinSion between the Male and Female difficult. 
No. XV. 
