RINGED DOTTEREL. 31 



It is very interesting to watch this pretty little bird chasing 

 nimbly along the sands close to the water's edge, avoiding 

 the waves that may now and then wash higher up than the 

 others, by deviating just as much as, and no more than is 

 necessary from its course. It needs not the warning of the 

 lesson taught by Canute to his courtiers, but follows the 

 guidance of Nature, obedient to ONE, and ONE only, who hath 

 'placed the sand for the bound of the sea by a perpetual 

 decree that it cannot pass it, and though the waves thereof 

 toss themselves, yet can they not prevail; though they roar, 

 yet can they not pass over it;' farther than that it turns 

 not aside, instinctively knowing the truth of the Divine law 

 given to the ocean, and which it must obey, 'Hitherto shalt 

 thou come, and no further, and here shall thy proud waves 

 be stayed.' Thus you may see it 'running before the wind,' 

 as so well depicted by my friend, the Rev. R. P. Alington, in 

 the figure from which the plate is taken, its light feathers 

 blown up by the gust sweeping from behind, and hurrying 

 by its side the bubbling foam left by the recoiling wave of 

 the flowing or ebbing tide. 



The numbers of these birds in some parts are added to in 

 the spring and autumn by migratory bodies, respectively 

 proceeding north and south, and these partial migrations take 

 place, it is said by night, and at a very high elevation; I 

 have never had opportunity of seeing it. 



The Ringed Dotterel will on occasion make use of the 

 same stratagems and manoeuvres that so many other kinds 

 do to allure away intruders from the nest or young, uttering 

 a twittering note of alarm and anxiety. 'At first when 

 leaving the nest, they skulk away from it before taking wing, 

 which they are easily enabled to do from their inobtrusive 

 colouring,' 'and if pursued will fly to a little distance, 

 distend all its feathers, and seem to tumble over head and 

 heels repeatedly, till it has enticed its enemy to a distance 

 from its young, and then it flies off.' When disturbed, they 

 course usually in a semicircle over the sea, and, if allowed, 

 return to the same spot or near it. They are good birds to 

 eat, and are caught in nooses accordingly. 



They associate at times with other maritime species, though 

 not on terms of very close intimacy. They are very hardy 

 birds, and may easily be kept in confinement. They are fond 

 of bathing, and Meyer says, sometimes saturate themselves 

 so that they cannot easily take wing. 



