84 BRITAIN^S BIRDS AND THEIR NESTS. 



ing for them, we shall pass them by without a thought ; but 

 if we closely scrutinise the flats we shall soon distinguish the 

 birds running about actively, apparently at random, but yet 

 keeping near each other. Every instant some small particle 

 of food is picked up, and the bird darts off in a new direction, 

 only to stop abruptly after a few steps to secure another 

 morsel. Without having recourse to any particular pre- 

 cautions, we may walk up to within a very few yards of them 

 without disturbing them in the slightest. The general 

 direction of their progress will be away from us, and their 

 movements may become more nervous and hurried, but the 

 feeding does not stop. We make some sudden movement, 

 however, and with incredible quickness and unanimity they 

 all take wing, uttering a triple whistling call. Up and down 

 they fly at great speed, turning sharply now and then as if at 

 a word of command. In a minute or two they will alight as 

 suddenly as they rose, and as often as not almost at the same 

 spot. Their quickness makes up for their lack of shyness, 

 but their inconspicuous coloration is their best protection. 



The same sandy shores may in summer afford suitable 

 nesting-ground for the Ringed Plover. A patch of dry sand 

 some distance above the high-tide line is all it requires. 

 Often, however, it goes a short distance inland to some dune- 

 covered waste, such as the Terns frequent, or to some low 

 moor bordering an estuary, where it lives alongside Eider- 

 Ducks, Redshanks, Peewits, and other ground-nesters like 

 itself. 



Nothing very much in the way of a nest is made — in fact, 

 the eggs are often laid in a mere hollow scooped in the sand 

 or shingle. More usually some slight attempt at a lining is 

 made, a few pebbles being commonly used for this purpose. 

 More ambitious nests are sometimes to be foimd consisting of 

 hollows very well lined. An instance has been recorded in 

 which the lining consisted of two thousand (seven ounces) 



