82 BRITISH NESTING BIRDS 



Food. — Crustaceans, molluscs, sandworms, and insects. 



Voice. — Call, " tirr, tirr, pit, pit, pwee, pwee," or a shrill " whit; " 

 otherwise " pitwee " or " ptwee." Alarm, " tirr." 



Chief Features— A rare species, being restricted to two or three 

 counties. It has been harried by collectors until it is almost 

 on the verge of extinction as a nesting bird. Only with us 

 during the Summer. 



Plumage.— White forehead, eye stripe, cheeks, chin, and under parts; 

 forehead above black, and a band of the same colour extends 

 from base of bill through the eye, and a large spot of black on 

 either side of breast; light brownish-red on head and nape; 

 ash-brown above; white on two outer tail-feathers. The 

 female lacks the black on the fore crown, brown on neck in 

 place of black, and is generally of a duller character than her 

 mate. Length. — Six inches and three-quarters. 



PLOVER, RINGED (Mgialitis hiaticula) 

 Local Names.— Alexandrine Plover, Dull-Willy, Land Laverock, 



Ringed Dotterel, Sand Lark, Sand Laverock, Sandy Loo, Shell 



Turner, Stone-Hatch, Stone Plover, Stone Runner, Wideawake. 

 Haunt. — The seashore, mudflats, banks of rivers, and marshes. 

 Nesting Period. — April to June. 

 Site of Nest. — On the seashore among shingle or sand, or not far 



from the shore. 

 Materials Used. — None as a rule, but I have an interesting series of 



photographs showing that in many instances this bird does 



attempt to build quite a respectable homestead. 

 Eggs. — Four. Cream-colour, spotted and streaked with black; very 



pointed at one end. 

 Food. — Marine insects, worms, shrimps, etc. 

 Voice. — Call, a harsh " trr; " alarm-notes, " pen-y-et," also a short 



and mellow whistle like " too-it " or " too-o." 

 Chief Features. — One of the most entertaining birds of the seashore. 



Easily distinguished by engaging manner and black and white 



plumage. It is aptly named Wideawake. 

 Plumage. — Black forehead, lores, and gorget; white band across 



forehead; eye stripes, collar, and lower parts the same; light 



brown on nape and upper parts; white on outer tail-feathers; 



orange bill, orbits, and feet. The black collar of the female is 



not so prominent as in themale. Length. — Seven inches and 



three-quarters. 



