PLOVERS 61 



four parallel stripes or bands of buff. The black tail is banded 

 with tawny yellow and has a white terminal rim. Under-parts 

 mainly white or whitish, more or less vaguely barred with 

 dusky grey. 



Nest. A depression in the ground in a marshy place, some- 

 times among heather. Lined with dead grasses. 



Eggs. Normally 4. Pear-shaped with ground-colour varying 

 from greenish or yellowish-green to olive-brown, more or 

 less heavily spotted or blotched with shades of brown and 

 underlying ash-grey. Av. size, 1*56 x 1*12 in. Laying begins 

 March- April, and later in the north. One brood, some- 

 times two. 



121. Jack-snipe [Gallinago gallinula (Linnseus)]. Generally 

 distributed winter visitor. Also bird of 



passage (E. Clarke). Marshes and coast. 

 Bird. Length 7^ in., therefore dis- 

 tinctly smaller than the preceding, from 

 which it may be further distinguished by 

 having twelve instead of fourteen tail- 

 feathers, by the absence of a marked 

 central buff stripe on the crown, and by the metallic purple 

 of the rump and the metallic greens on the scapulars. Four 

 buff stripes along the back. Under-parts mostly dull white 

 more or less streaked with dark brown. 



(5) Family: Charadriidce. (b) Subfamily : Charadriince Plovers 



122. Dotterel [fiudromius morinellus Linnaeus]. Summer 

 visitor, chiefly to Scottish hills. Bird of passage. 



Bird. Length 9 in. At once distinguished from the other 

 British plovers by the white band across the upper breast and 

 the large conspicuous patch of chestnut below it. Upper-parts 

 mostly ash-brown with paler edges. A marked white stripe 

 passing over the eye backward. A brownish-black patch on 

 the lower breast. Belly and tail-coverts white. After the 

 autumn moult the black and chestnut of the under-parts give 

 way to white. Fledglings differ greatly, sufficient for recogni- 

 tion being the buff eye-stripe, breast and flanks, and the 

 absence of the white breast band. 



Nest. High up on barren mountain slopes. A depression 

 scantily lined with bents or other material. 



Eggs. Usually 3. Yellowish or olive boldly blotched with 

 deep black-brown and occasionally with underlying ash-grey. 

 Av. size, 1 -62 x 1-14 in. Laying begins in June. One brood. 



123. Ringed -plover ringed - dotterel [JBgiatifa hiaticula 

 hiaticula (Linnaeus)]. Resident, chiefly on our coasts. 



