774 
BIRD-LIFE. 
and graceful: it runs as fast, or faster, than a man 
can walk, and when so doing carries the body rather 
horizontally, with the neck drawn in, moving its legs 
so rapidly as to render them almost invisible. Its flight 
corresponds with its walk, being light, active and sure, 
though variable. The Golden Plover, however, never 
rises until convinced that running will no longer serve its 
purpose, or when repeated pursuit has already rendered 
it distrustful and timid. 
Companionship seems necessary to its existence, as it 
is only when breeding that the Golden Plover is seen in 
pairs; at all other seasons it is met with in company 
either with others of its species, or those nearly allied 
to it. When separated from a flock of its own species 
it will occasionally join with birds belonging to quite 
different families. I have, seen the Golden Plover 
associating with Larks, and even Sand Grouse; and in 
Lapland with the Lapland Bunting. A single bird is 
always less shy of approach than a flock, amongst which 
there are sure to be some individuals whose experience of 
this wicked world and its ways causes them to look upon 
everything they see with distrust. These wary individuals 
give warning of danger by a short “clieu,” not only to 
their companions, hut to other birds, thus greatly annoy¬ 
ing the sportsman, for they are as shrewd and clever as 
only members of their genus can he; they possess a 
capital memory, and do not easily forget any insult they 
may have once been subjected to. They easily distin¬ 
guish the shepherd from the gunner, or a harmless 
animal from one likely to do them an injury. When they 
rise they seem also to banter their pursuer, inasmuch as 
they usually circle round and round in the air, as though 
they intended to alight, instead of which, after performing 
