the person who guides the plough, in the operation of tilling.
PLoughing, in agriculture, the turning up the earth with a plough. See Agriculture, Part II.; paffim.
Plover, in ornithology, a species of Charadrius.
These birds usually fly in exceedingly large flocks in the places they frequent; people talk of 2,000 or 30,000 being seen in a flock. They generally come to us in September, and leave us about the end of March. In cold weather they are found very commonly on lands lying near the sea in quest of food; but in thaws and open seasons they go higher up in the country.
They love to feed on ploughed lands, but never remain long at a time on them, for they are very cleanly in their nature; and the dirt which lodges on their beaks and feet give them so much uneasiness, that they fly to the nearest water to wash themselves. When they root, they do not go to trees or hedges; but sit squatting on the ground like ducks or geese, far from trees or hedges, when the weather is calm; but when it is stormy, they often get under shelter. In wet weather they do not sleep in the night at all, but run about picking up the worms, as they crawl out of the ground; during this feeding they are continually making a small cry, that serves to keep them together; and in the morning they take flight. If in their flight they spy any others on the ground, they call them up; and if they refuse to come, the whole body defends to see what food there is in the place that retains them.
Plovers are very easily taken at the time of their first coming over, when they have not got any other birds mixed among them; but when they afterwards pick up the teal and other wild birds among them, it becomes more difficult. The best season for taking them is in October, especially in the beginning of that month; after this they grow timorous, and are not easily taken again till March, which is the time of their coupling. The severest frosts are not the best season for taking them in net, but variable weather does better. The north-west wind is found disadvantageous to the taking of them; and in general, great regard is to be paid to the course of the wind in the setting of the nets. All fowl fly against the wind when the land lies that way; and the nets for taking them are therefore to be placed in a proper direction accordingly.