28 , DOTTEEEL. 



display the natural anxiety of other birds for their young. 

 They are said to be fond of bathing, and to resort to water 

 early in the morning, or late in the evening for that purpose, 

 and to drink. They are also reported to be fond of dusting 

 themselves. They soon become tame in confinement, but do 

 not live long. 



They both fly and run fast. 



They feed on caterpillars, worms, slugs, grasshoppers, beetles, 

 and other insects, and also on some leaves of plants. 



The note is soft and low, but somewhat shrill. Meyer 

 compares it to the words, 'durr,' 'dutt,' and 'drew.' 



Any small hollow in the ground serves for a nest, and it 

 is generally near some stone or rock; a few lichens make its 

 'mossy bed.' The male assists the female in the work of 

 incubation, which lasts apparently for eighteen or twenty days. 

 The hen bird sits very close, and if disturbed only runs a 

 few yards off. 



The eggs are three in number, seldom more. They are laid 

 from the end of May and the beginning of June, to the 

 end of June and even the beginning of July, 



Male; weight, about four ounces, sometimes five, and Mr. 

 Yarrell mentions one six ounces and a half; length, nine inches 

 and a half; bill, nearly black; iris, brown; from it, and a 

 little in front, the dark brown of the head descends, and runs 

 down the side of the neck, ending in a point and meeting 

 again the dark brown of the head and back of the neck; 

 a band of white proceeds from the eye on each side, the two 

 meeting below the occiput. Forehead, in winter, white streaked 

 with brown; head on the sides, white; crown, neck on the 

 back, and nape, dark brown, each feather finely margined with 

 white in summer, and in winter with pale reddish brown ; chin 

 and throat, white; breast above, grey with yello wish ^ edges to 

 the feathers in winter, succeeded by a band of white, which 

 is edged above and below with a dark line, then lower down, 

 rich orange chesnut brown, still lower black, and finally 

 cream-colour; the black is not so distinct in winter, and the 

 fine orange brown wanting. Back, greyish brown; the feathers 

 margined with pale buff orange. 



The wings have the first quill feather the longest; greater 

 and lesser wing coverts, greyish brown, edged with buff; 

 primaries, deep brown; the first with a broad white shaft, very 

 thick and strong; secondaries, deep brown with buff edges; 

 tertiaries, greyish brown edged with buff. Greater and lesser 



