THE DOTTEREL 233 



halo of exceptional dimensions was formed, the sun's 

 rays striking with prismatic effect on the many ice particles 

 in suspension in the upper air. 



When disturbed the behaviour of the Dotterel was 

 interesting. He at first declined to approach near to 

 the camera, running actively round in circles, and feeding 

 on the many insects that the hill-top harboured. His 

 sense of hearing must have been extremely acute, for he 

 several times stopped suddenly, then, retracing his steps, 

 picked up some small insect which he had heard after 

 he had passed. Once a large beetle settled near him. 

 He ran up, pecked at the creature, but missed his mark, 

 and the beetle took wing, alighting again, however, a 

 few yards in front of him. Again the Dotterel essayed 

 to pick up the insect, but again was unsuccessful. 

 This time he did not pursue the fugitive. He ran over 

 the heather with great speed, with head bent forward. 

 Once he tripped and nearly lost his balance on a piece 

 of heather, but, seeing that he did not look where he 

 was going, he was singularly steady on his feet. After 

 an hour or so his circles gradually narrowed, and he 

 evidently debated whether he could venture on to his 

 nest with the inscrutable eye of the camera fixed full 

 upon him. Time after time he approached to within a 

 few feet of his nest. Then his courage failed him, and he 

 endeavoured charmingly to decoy the camera from his 

 eggs, trailing his wings and spreading his tail wide in 

 his effort. Sometimes he would pretend to brood on 

 a nest near, constantly rising, when he saw the camera 

 could not be lured on, and almost at once crouching 

 motionless in a different position. 



Again, at other times, having approached very near 

 the danger zone, an idea seemed to strike him, and turning 

 about he ran rapidly away until he was sometimes out 

 of sight. But evidently he was consumed with anxiety 



