THE DOTTEREL. 



243 



plumage, remarkably shaded, of chaste and delicate 

 tintings. It deposits its eggs among the shingles 

 in some natm^ally-formed cavity, out of the reach 

 of the tide. The food of this bird, it may be seen, 

 is thus always within reach at the recess of the waves. 



THE RINGED DOTTEREL. 



The whistle of dotterel is a shrill and sad note ; that, 

 being almost incessant, betrays their presence long 

 before they are seen. Indeed, their sober plumage so 

 harmonizes with rock and stone, sea, and sky, and 

 sea-weed, by which they are surrounded, that it is 

 difficult to distinguish the animate from the inani- 

 mate portions of the creation. In such situations 

 they pursue an active and bustling career, either at 

 work pursuing their food, or sitting perched on the 

 rocks, or squatting on the coast in innumerable quan- 



