156 



BRITISH BIRDS 



the winter season but nearly always on the coast. The 

 eggs are four in number as is usual with the Plovers, and 

 yellowish or buff-white spotted with black, brown and grey. 

 The young can run about very actively soon after they 

 are hatched, and can be reared without much difficulty 

 on their natural diet, marine insects, small Crustacea, 



Oyster-Catchers. 



molluscs and fish. If pursued they hide their heads after 

 the manner of the Ostrich. The nest is generally placed 

 among stones above high water mark, but sometimes on grass. 

 Male and female are alike. They moult twice a year, 

 spring and autumn. 



The Plover's Page. See Dunlin [tinder Sandpipers). 



The Ringed Plover, or Ringed Dotterel. 



Also called the Land-Lark, Sea-Lark, Dull Willy and 

 other local names. In the northern parts of the British Isles 

 it is a resident species, but a winter visitor only in the south. 



