22 BRITISH BIRDS. 



is very common on the mud-flats which are the favourite resort of various 

 species of Sandpiper. 



The Ringed Plover is a wild wary bird when feeding, especially in its 

 winter-quarters, or where it has been much molested ; but at its breeding- 

 grounds it changes its character and becomes an unobstrusive little creature, 

 by no means shy or wary, allowing you to walk within a few yards of it 

 without betraying any signs of fear. As you approach, it often runs a 

 little distance, then may pause to watch you with just a trace of anxiety ; 

 or more probably it flies smoothly along just above the sands, uttering a 

 plaintive note as it goes, and alights on a little eminence to watch your 

 movements. Few shore-birds are more engaging in their actions than the 

 Ringed Plover. It is a pretty sight to watch half a dozen of these little 

 creatures tripping over the sands or running amongst the pebbles and other 

 shore debris searching for food. They run with great swiftness, every now 

 and then pausing a moment, then darting on a few feet, then resting again, 

 putting the observer irresistibly in mind of the progress of a fly on a 

 window-pane. They keep close to the edge of the water, following the 

 receding waves to pick up their meal, often wading through little pools, 

 ever being driven backwards by the approaching waves, and as constantly 

 following them as they recede, to glean the rich harvest of marine animals 

 left by the receding tide. If the shore is sandy the birds are easily 

 discernible for a considerable distance ; but when it is strewn with pebbles 

 and shingle it is hard to discover their whereabouts, and very often they 

 keep rising almost at the intruder's feet, squatting close until almost 

 trodden upon ere they take wing. The flight of this little bird is per- 

 formed by regular and quick beatings of the wings, and every now and 

 then it glides for a short distance, especially when going to alight. They 

 usually fly quite close to the ground, sometimes not more than a few inches 

 above it, but at other times they may be seen to soar high in the air and 

 fly round and round ; they often do this if shot at or otherwise alarmed. 

 When in flocks they sometimes perform various graceful evolutions in the 

 air, wheeling round, simultaneously turning or swooping close to the ground 

 and rising again as if all were moved by one common impulse. When 

 engaged in searching for food the Ringed Plovers occasionally mix with 

 other shore-birds, such as Dunlins or other Sandpipers ; but when disturbed 

 they generally keep to themselves, flying away in a compact flock like 

 Starlings. If little of the shore is exposed at high water the birds repair 

 to more elevated ground, and there await the ebbing of the tide. 



The food of the Ringed Plover is composed largely of sea-worms and 

 small marine animals, such as shrimps, sand-lice, &c. It also catches great 

 numbers of insects as they flit past or alight on the sand, and it searches 

 for beetles. A little coarse sand or a few small pebbles are swallowed to 

 aid in the digestion of its food. The call-note of the Ringed Plover 



