212 BIRDS OF NORFOLK. 



presuming from tlie actions of the birds they had either 

 eggs or nestlings, I determined to watch them from 

 the neighbouring sandhills, and if possible discover the 

 position of the nest. Time was no object on that bright 

 summer's morning, so that I seated myself, glass in 

 hand, prepared to match my patience against their 

 parental solicitude. Although at a considerable dis- 

 tance they seemed quite aware of my presence, and 

 and with a rapid sweeping flight circled orer the marsh, 

 sometimes soaring high in the air as if about to leave 

 altogether; at others, swooping close to the ground, 

 but never stopping for an instant in any one spot. 

 At length the area of their flight diminished by degrees, 

 though their agitated cries were loud as ever, and first 

 one bird alighted, with a quick short run and vibratory 

 motion of the wings and tail; then another, but far 

 apart, and both stood motionless as a ring dotterel 

 on a ridge of shingle. Presently one, which I sup- 

 posed to be the male, again took wing, and dashing 

 to and fro, even more vnldly than before and with 

 redoubled clamour, seemed desirous to attract all atten- 

 tion to itself; but whilst admiring the cleverness of 

 this little ruse, I took care to keep my glass fixed 

 upon its mate, and soon had the satisfaction of seeing 

 her run hastily to a thick grassy tuft, and there with 

 trembling wings caress her young ones. Marking the 

 spot exactly, I started from my post, but long before 

 I reached it both birds were again on the wing, now 

 dashing over my head in the wildest excitement, and 

 loudly wailing as I stooped to search amongst the long 

 coarse grasses. There they were sure enough, three 



quoted by Yarrell and Macgillivray (though discredited by the 

 latter) that this species, in boring for food, "dart their bill into 

 the sand nearly its whole length, by jumping up and thus giving 

 it a sort of impetus by the weight of their bodies pressing it down- 

 wards." 



