2 RINGED DOTTEREL. 



They fly with strength and rapidity, but generally not 

 far unless much alarmed, coming back to the place they had 

 left, as the most productive probably of a supply of food. 

 The flight is performed with moderate flappings of the wings; 

 they also run fast, frequently stopping and glancing round 

 They move about in a horizontal position, with the head 

 lowered, and the neck shortened, but when running, stretch 

 themselves out more. Before flying, and again before settling, 

 the wings are spread up over the back. 



They feed on worms, marine and other aquatic insect 

 their larvse, and small Crustacea, shrimps, sandhoppers, and 

 other such, and they continue searching for them on moonlight 

 nights until the morning. 



The note is a clear wild whistle, and they utter it when 

 disturbed, taking short flights and then alighting and running 

 again. If much alarmed they fly right off, coursing along 



over the sea. 



They begin to pair early in May, but some earlier and 

 others later in the summer. 



The nest, so to call it, for there is none but some slight 

 natural hollow amongst small gravel, or on a little hillock 

 of cand, frequently under the shelter of some tall grass, is 

 eenerally placed on a bank by the beach, just above^ high- 

 water mark, but occasionally in sandy places farther inland, 

 as much, Sir William Jardine says, as ten, or from that to 

 fifteen or twenty miles: in some instances on the banks that 

 line the coast, or even over them in an adjoining field. 

 Among others, on warrens in Norfolk and Suffolk, near 

 Bechamwell, Elston, and Thetford, occasionally also in the 

 Fens- great numbers appeared in those of Bottisham and 

 Swaffham in Cambridgeshire, the Eev. Leonard Jenyns has 

 recorded, in the months of June and July, 1824, which was 

 a remarkably wet season. 



The eo-o-s are four in number, and of a greenish grey, pale 

 buff or c?eam-colour, spotted and streaked with bluish grey 

 and' black or blackish brown. The male and female both 

 sit on them, and appear much attached to each other, as well 

 as very careful of their eggs and young. In the spring the 

 males often fight. 



Male- weight, about two ounces; length, seven inches and 

 a half to seven and three quarters; bill, black at the tip, 

 orange yellow towards the base; iris, brown; below it is a 

 wide black band, reaching in front to and over the bill. 



