STONE, which is of the size of a thrush, and has a black bill, about an inch long, turned up a little at the end. The body of this bird is black, variously marked with white and rust colour on the upper parts; the breast and belly being white. The legs are short and orange coloured. It is found on various parts of the coast of England and Scotland, and in North America. The female makes a nest in the sand, in which it lays three or four olive coloured eggs, spotted with black; and at the time of hatching it is so courageous that it will attack dogs and even men, on their approaching the nest. The Turnstone has its name from its custom of turning over stones, in search of insects and worms. Catesby saw one of them which, though it moved only the upper mandible of its bill, was able dexterously and quickly to turn over stones of three pounds weight.

THE length of this bird is about ten inches. It has a black bill, white cheeks and throat, pale dull orange breast, light brown back and wings, reddish white belly, thighs, and vent, an olive brown tail, tipped with white, and dark olive coloured legs. It is a mi

gratory bird, visiting Cambridgeshire, Lincolnshire, and Derbyshire in flocks, from April to June. The Dotterel is also said to breed among the mountains of Westmoreland and Cumberland. While in season, it is considered as excellent eating. It has the singular peculiarity of imitating all the motions made by the bird catcher who pursues it at night with a lighted torch, and thus gives him an opportunity of entangling it in his net.

It

THIS singular bird, we might, perhaps, justly say most singular of birds, inhabits the south of Europe, Asia, Africa, and America, but very rarely visits England. Chance alone seems to drive it to this country. has a slender, black bill, two inches and a half in length; the irides are red; the forehead, round the eye, and all the under parts, are white; the back, the crown of the head, and the wings, are glossy black; the hind part of the neck is marked with dusky spots; the rump is white; the tail the same, inclining to gray; the outer feathers are quite white; the legs red; and the outer and middle toes connected at the base.

But the circumstance which makes this bird differ

from all others is the astonishing and seemingly preposterous length of its legs. Mr. White has given a very pleasing description of this natural curiosity. "In the last week of April, 1779," says he, "five of these most rare birds were shot upon the verge of Frensham pond; a large lake between Woolmer Forest and Farnham. One of these specimens I procured, and found the length of the legs to be so extraordinary, that, at first sight, one might have supposed the shanks had been fastened on, to impose on the credulity of the beholder: they were legs in caricature; and had we seen such proportions on a Chinese or Japan screen, we should have made large allowance for the fancy of the draughtsman.

"The birds might with propriety be called the Stilt Plovers. My specimen, when drawn and stuffed with pepper, weighed only four ounces and a quarter, though the naked part of the thigh measured three inches and a half. Hence we may safely assert, that these birds exhibit weight for inches, and have incomparably the greatest length of legs of any known bird. The Flamingo, for instance, is one of the most longlegged birds, and yet it bears no manner of proportion to the Himantopus, as this bird is denominated by naturalists; for a cock Flamingo weighs, at an average, about four pounds avoirdupois; and his legs and thighs measure usually about twenty inches. But four pounds are fifteen and a fraction times more than four ounces and a quarter; and if four ounces and a quarter have eight inches of legs, four pounds must have one hundred and twenty inches and a fraction of legs, or somewhat more than ten feet; such a monstrous proportion as the world never saw. If we try the experiment in still larger birds the disparity will increase.

"It must be matter of great curiosity to see the Stilt Plover move; to observe how it can wield such a

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length of lever with such feeble muscles as the thighs seem be furnished with. At best, one should expect it to be a bad walker: but what adds to the wonder is that it has no back toe. Now, without that steady prop to support its steps, it must, theoretically, be liable to perpetual vacillations, and seldom able to preserve the true centre of gravity."

THE GREEN PLOVER.

THIS bird, which is also called the Golden Plover, is about ten inches and a half in length, and has a short round black bill, sharp at the end, and a little hooked. The tongue, which fills all the inner chap of the bill, is triangular at the tip, horny underneath, and turns a little up. The feathers of the back and wings are black, thick set with transverse, spots of a yellowish green colour; the breast is brown, spotted with yellowish green; the belly is white; and, like the longlegged plover, it has no hind claw or spur.

These birds are found in France, Switzerland, Italy, and in most counties of England; in all which places they are esteemed a choice dish, their flesh being very tender, and of an exceedingly agreeable flavour. They feed chiefly upon worms; though some authors have absurdly affirmed that they live, like the grasshopper, upon nothing but dew.

This bird was called Pardalis by the ancients, from its beautiful spots, which somewhat resemble those of the leopard.

The RING PLOVER, which is also called the Sea Lark, weighs only two ounces, but is seven inches and a half long. Its bill is half an inch long, and a black line runs from it to the eyes. A white collar encircles the upper part of the neck, and a black the lower. The breast and belly are white; the back and

wings a light brown; and the legs yellow. In summer it frequents our shores, and from this circumstance it has acquired its name of the Sea Lark.

Another species of Plover is denominated THE SANDERLING. It is eight inches in length, and weighs only an ounce and three quarters. It frequents many parts of both continents, and is in great plenty on the Lancashire and Cornish coasts. It has a weak black bill about an inch long; an ash-coloured head and neck, streaked with black; the wings and back brownish gray edged with white, and all the under parts of the body white.

THIS race is considered by naturalists as the tribe which unites the order of the Swimmers with that of the Waders; for although they have long legs and necks like the latter, yet by being furnished with a slight membrane between their toes, they are enabled to swim like the former; the principal of them are the Water-hen, Moor-hen or Gallinule, and the Coots; these, though placed in different classes by those who