106 DOTTEREL RINGED PLOVER. 



once quietly runs away, sometimes feigning in jury, or squatting 

 motionless where its plumage harmonizes with the ground, and 

 is very difficult to see. The young always do the same, if 

 frightened. Gregarious in winter. 



Food. Insects, beetles, worms, and slugs ; also mice, frogs, 

 and reptiles. 



Nest. May. Probably two broods. 



Site. On the ground, among pebbles or stones. 



Materials. Perhaps a few grasses. 



Eggs. Two. Buff or clay-colour, spotted, streaked, and 

 blotched with dark brown and bluish grey. 



Family CHARADRIID&. 

 DOTTEREL (Eudromias morinellus). 



Migrant ; April to September. Usually observed as a pass- 

 ing migrant. It may still breed, in limited numbers, in the 

 mountains of the Lake District. Breeds fairly commonly on 

 the loneliest mountain -districts of the Highlands. 



Plumage. Crown blackish, bordered with white band extend- 

 ing round to the nape ; upper parts ash-brown. Tail tipped 

 with white. Throat dull white. Breast ash-brown, with white 

 band below. Flanks chestnut. Belly black. Tail-coverts white. 

 Bill black. Legs and feet dusky green. Length 9 in. Female, 

 rather larger and brighter. Young : crown and upper parts 

 margined with rufous buff ; breast mottled with greyish brown ; 

 under parts dull white. 



Language. Said to be a low, unmusical chirp ; very silent. 



Habits. On its first arrival it moves about the country in 

 small flocks known as " trips," but soon goes north to breed. 

 It is almost foolishly tame, and its name is probably derived 

 from " dotard." 



Food. Insects and their larvae, beetles, wireworms, &c. 



Nest. June. One brood. 



Site. On the ground, among short grass growing near a 

 mountain-top. 



Materials. None. 



Eggs. Three. Yellowish olive, blotched and spotted with 

 brownish black. 



RINGED PLOVER (Mgialitu hiaticola). 



Resident. Generally distributed along our coast-lines. A 

 shore-bird, breeding either on pebbly beaches, or among sand- 

 dunes. Sometimes found inland. 



Plumage. Band across forehead, lores and gorget black; 

 white band across lower forehead ; white stripe over eye. 



