y numerously distributed over all our warrens and fallow

t the second week in April, the female depositing
It is generally supposed that the males

Norfolk, says -— The Cdicnemus crepitans is ver
lands during the breeding-season, which commences abou
are ground, without any nest whatever. oe
; but this would seem to be incorrect ; for, wishing to procure a few
da boy to take them for me: this he did by ensnaring them on
They assemble in flocks previously to their

her pair of eggs upon the b
take no part in the labour of incubation ;
specimens in the breeding-plumage, I employe
the nest ; and all he caught proved, on dissection, t } ss
departure, which is usually by the end of October ;_ but should the weather conto open, a ew will remain
to a much later period. I started one as late as the 9th of December in the winter of 1834. -

that in France “‘ the Great Plovers arrive pretty early in spring. They settle on
preferring low hills and sloping fields.

o be males.

Valmont Bomare states
the dry grounds filled with stones, among fallows and stubbles,
es concealed and crouched on the ground ; but at sunset they put them-

which they do not cease to repeat during the
apidity, fly low and but for short distances,

During the day they keep themselv
selves in motion, and are then heard to commence their cries,
fine summer nights. When surprised, they run with extreme r
are very wild and not easily approached. The female lays tw
pebbles or gravel in some depression of the ground, or in a hollow whic
the year, that incubation continues for a month, and that

o or, at most, three eggs, in the midst of
h the birds have formed by scraping.
It is said that they sometimes have two broods in
he young; they are, in fact, nearly full-grown before they can fly, their
d; but they run in this state with great lightness, and at this age
In November the Great Plovers set out on their journey to warmer

the growth of the feathers is slow in t
wing-feathers not having yet sproute
appear as stupid as they are timid.”
climates: and it appears that even in summer they do not advance far northward.

The food of the Stone-Plover is extremely varied; but mainly consists of slugs, grasshoppers, crickets,
grubs, coleopterous and other insects, to which are added mice, lizards, and, doubtless, young birds. As
an article of food, my friend J. W. Larking, Esq., informs me that its flesh is most excellent: and from the
many opportunities he has had of testing it during his long sojourn in Egypt, where the bird is very common,
he is no incompetent judge.

Mr. Jerdon states that ‘the well-known Stone-Plover of England occurs in most parts of India, down to
the extreme south, frequenting bushy wilds, cleared spots in jungle, low, stony, and jungly hills, and occa
sionally patches of grass with bushes interspersed, but, generally, in some retired and secluded spots. It is
more rare in lower Bengal and in Malabar than in most other districts. When a flock of these birds is
disturbed, they fly a short distance and then run and hide themselves, occasionally squatting so close as to
have received from the Tamuls the name of Jungle-hare. They are permanent residents in India. It is a
favourite quarry for the Shikra Falcon with the natives, for which its habit of lying close well adapts it, and it
generally falls an easy prey. It is excellent eating, being very high-flavoured, and has received the name
of Bastard Florikin among some sportsmen in the south of India. It feeds almost entirely upon insects, is
quite nocturnal in its habits ; and its wild long cry may frequently be heard at night, close to many stations
where you may hunt long without finding it in the day-time.”

The eggs, which are about two inches and a half in length by an inch and a half in breadth, are of a pale
greyish brown, blotched, spotted, and streaked with dark brown and purplish grey; and so closely do they
and the young chicks (in their downy state) assimilate to the colour of the materials around, that both are
very difficult of detection.

I regard the fact stated by Mr. Salmon, that the male takes part in the performance of incubation, as
most interesting; it is well known that the males of the Ostrich, Emu, and other struthious birds act in a
similar manner. The trivial name of Thick-knee, given to this bird, is only applicable to its youthful state ;
when fully adult the legs are as fine as in any other Plover.

The sexes are alike in colour, and differ but little in size. The young birds, in their downy state, are
very curious and interesting, both in their appearance and colouring—the latter being of a light mottled

stony hue, diversified by conspicuous longitudinal lines of black across the forehead, down the neck and
back, and along the flanks.

 

ae Plate pene an adult and two young birds, of the natural size, with an adult fying othe
distance, from a drawing by Mr. Wolf, and not, as stated on the Plate, by Gould and Richter