2L0 BMTIHH BIRDS' NJ^STS. 



PLOVER, RINGED. Aho Einged Dotterel. 



Descrijjtiou of Parent Birch. — Length about seven 

 and three-quarter mches. Beak sliort, straight, 

 black at the tip, and rich, dark yellow towards 

 the base. Irides 1)rown. Forehead white, middle 

 of crown black, followed by greyisli-brown, which 

 extends down the back of the neck ; back and 

 wings greyish-brown, except the ends of the 

 coverts, which are tipped with white, and the 

 primaries, which are dusky, with some white at 

 the base and along the shafts. Upper tail-coverts 

 greyish-brown ; quills greyish-black in the centre, 

 outside feathers white. A black patch commences 

 at the gape and passes under the eye, backward and 

 downward, to the side of the neck. A broadish 

 collar of white passes round the upper part of 

 the neck, followed by a gorget of black, which is 

 deepest in front. Breast and all the under-parts 

 white. Legs and toes orange ; claws black. 



In the female the black parts of the head and 

 neck are not so broad or Avell defined. 



Situation and Local/t//. — On the plain surface 

 or in a slight hollow, scraped in the sand or shingle 

 above high water-marlv on stretches of flat, sandy 

 shores, also in shallow crevices of bare, flat sea- 

 shore rocks ; sometimes quite inland on the banks 

 of rivers and lakes in neai'ly all suitable jilaces 

 throughout the British Isles. Our illustration Avas 

 procured near to Bamborough Castle. 



Materials. — None generally, but sometimes a 

 lining of small pebbles ; and in places where a 

 crevice in a flat rock has been adopted I have 

 often met with a lining of small sea shells. 



Eggs. — Four, pear-shaped, pale buft', cream, or 



