1 88 THE BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



must be considered together. It is the larger bird (Plate 78) 

 which nests in the British Isles, and also is, apparently, the 

 more northern form. The Ringed Plover breeds in Arctic 

 America, Greenland, and northern and central Europe, and 

 winters in Africa, even in the south. As a nesting species it 

 occurs on all our coasts and in a number of inland localities ; 

 probably most of our birds are resident, though there is an 

 extensive autumnal immigration and at the same time emigra- 

 tion from the south coast ; some portion of the home-bred birds 

 may go south. 



On the shore there is no more familiar wader than the lively 

 Ringed Dotterel, as it is often called; it is a little larger than 

 its constant companion, the Dunlin, and has distinctive black 

 markings on its head and face, framing a prominent white fore- 

 head. On a pebble beach these markings and its sandy-drab 

 back are by no means conspicuous, but on mud or grass the 

 bird shows up well. Five other members of the genus are on 

 the British list, but all are rare ; the distinctive characters of 

 each are stated later. Except in the breeding season the 

 Ringed Plover is eminently sociable, and even in its nesting 

 it shows a tendency to colonial habits. Sociability is not 

 limited to its own species ; it consorts freely with Dunlins, 

 Sanderlings, Stints, and other waders, flying and feeding with 

 them. In April and May, when large numbers are on passage, 

 after the residents have settled down, and on the return in 

 autumn, wonderful flights of these mixed waders may be 

 witnessed when the birds are awaiting the turn of the tide. 

 The Ringed Plover is as skilful and agile in its turns and 

 twists as any, and its white plumage as silvery when with 

 sudden swoop the flock showers earthward. At a distance 

 these suddenly rising and dropping flocks look like showers of 

 sunlit spray. When little parties sweep past along the beach, 

 skimming low over the sand, the noise of wings sounds like the 

 rustle of silk. The wing-beats are regular, rather deliberate, 



