3^0 British birbs. 
OF THE PLOVER. 
Although the Plover has generally been claffed 
\vith thofe birds whofe bufmefs is wholly among 
waters, we cannot help confidering the greater part 
of them as partaking entirely of the nature of land 
birds. Many of them breed upon our loftiefl 
mountains, and though they are frequently feen 
upon the fea-coafts, feeding with birds of the wa- 
ter kind, yet it mull be obferved that they are no 
more water birds than many of our fmall birds 
who repair there for the fame purpofe. 
The Plover is dillinguifhed by a large full 
eye ; its bill is flrait, lhort, and rather fwelled to- 
wards the tip ; its head is large ; and its legs are 
naked above the knee. The long-legged Plover 
and the Sanderling are waders, and belong more 
immediately to the water birds, to which we refer 
them : The Great Plover and the Lapwing we 
confider as entirely connected with birds of the 
Plover kind ; the former has ufually been clalfed 
with the Bullard, the latter with the Sandpiper ; 
but they differ very materially from both, and 
feem to agree in more effential points with this 
kind: We have therefore given them a place in 
this part of our work, where they may be confider- 
ed as connecting the two great divifions of land 
and water birds, to both of which they are in fome 
degree allied. 
