212 BIRDS OF NORFOLK. 
presuming from the actions of the birds they had either 
eges 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 over 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 wildly 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.” 
