2 
STONE -CUR LEW. 
soil, Tlie loosened ground alTords better means of obtaining worms and beetles, their usual food ; and tlie 
birds appear particularly to delight in the partial concealment which the young trees afford in the first year 
or two. As soon as the trees attain any size, all attraction ceases. This bird, with us, is, I believe, reckoned 
worthless for the table, being very hard and dry ; in India, where it is called the Goggle-eyed Elorican, it is 
in great repute. It stays very late before it migrates,— in mild seasons to the very end of November, and 
even into December.” When referring to the remains of Ealconry in Norfolk the same author also states 
“Occasionally the Norfolk Plover {CEdicnenms crepitans) was pursued, and gave very good flights. The 
Carrion Crow also, and the Magpie, Avere in turn objects of sport.” ° 
Ihe headquarters of this species in the British Islands are, as one of its names, the Norfolk PloA^er, 
denotes, in the eastern counties. About the large Avarrens in the neighbourhood of Thetford and other parts 
of Norfolk it IS reported to breed abundantly; in this locality I never explored their haunts, and only 
ob.served a few of these birds about the Broad districts in Norfolk, where they were merely accidental 
visitors usually seen late in autumn or early spring. On the South Downs in Sussex, from above Worthino- 
to Newhaven, these fine Plovers * are by no means scarce, being perhaps most plentiful on the ran-e of bills 
between Brighton and Lewes. Here numbers of pairs are to be met with in spring and summer, but unless 
searched for by those Avho understand their habits, the whole would in most cases escape observation. 
I never came across this species during Avinter, though they are said to be occasionally flushed from 
turnip-fields late in autumn; and it is most probable that the majority leave the country on the approach 
o cold ueathcr for a warmer climate. A specimen shot near a pool of brackish Avater on the coast near 
Titcn''! ^ bird-stuffer’s shop in St. Leonards-on-Sea during the hard Avinter 
o 8G0, a loiu the latter end of December, and doubtless a few remain every winter, though they generally 
escape notice owing to their retiring habits. A few years back I Avas informed by a shepherd who 
tended his flock on the Downs near Ealmer, halfivay between Brighton and Lewes, that he had seen five 
ying ogether in January 18^0. The man Avas Avell acquainted with this species, which he spoke of as 
sprin-' previous 
EarnfT mflTno^r ^ St. Mary’s 
ni, a mile north of Ealmer; it Avas, however, discovered after a few Aveeks that the Herrino-Gulls 
Te aa:“ ^ the very aet^r^dS 
Mith Avh ch they had lived in peace and quietness for five or six weeks; lookino- over into their 
“ rsLll couple holding doAvn the unfortunate bird, Avhile the third rascal Avas hammering 
my appearance but tbe ' immediately retreated on 
,I„, , fl • ■ ; !’ ‘““■'■‘“S t'‘ey wore heard calliag at ni-lit, indicatin- 
ou : orr™':" ^-rtors. Each ofUrese h^-ds devoured 
about haU a pound of chopped moat or the same quantity of worms eyory day; tirey were however 
. lays triuid retreating to shelter when inspected, and it appeared improbable they wLd ever become 
confiding and tame like Gulls, Ducks, or Guillemots. ^ 
hollow‘ro7the"Iill s°’r“”T'' t", 0" ‘1>» open Downs and also in the sloping 
al been made 1 e" t 7 T = ““ 
a held of young corn; I faded, however, to obtain the birds, and the ever watchful and thieving 
* Here they are generally known as Norfolk Plovers. 
