175 



with slight streaks. The young, which are at first 

 covered with down, leave the nest as soon as they 

 are hatched, the mother leading them to some stony 

 tract. 



PLOYEE, RINGED. 



EING DOTTEREL. 

 CHABADBIUS HIATICULA, Lin. 



The Ring Plover is generally dispersed along 

 the shores of this country, in which it is perma- 

 nently resident. It collects in autumn into large 

 flocks, which frequent the sands of bays and 

 estuaries, often mingling with Sandpipers. Its 

 food consists of insects, worms, and small crusta- 

 ceous animals. It runs with great celerity, has a 

 rapid flight, and emits a mellow whistling cry. 

 Towards the beginning of April the flocks break 

 up into small parties, when the individuals pair. 

 The nest is a hollow formed in the sand, gene- 

 rally not far from high-water mark, but some- 

 times in the sandy pastures, and even far inland. 

 The eggs, of which there are invariably four, are 

 large and of a greyish yellow colour, slightly 

 covered with small spots of brownish black. 



