CHARADRIAD^E. 203 



"These birds do not make any nest, but deposit their 

 eggs, which seldom exceed three in number, in a small ca- 

 vity on dry ground covered with vegetation, and generally 

 near a moderate- sized stone or fragment of rock." In size, 

 the egg is considerably less than the Pewit's or Golden 

 Plover's, but otherwise, in its general character and colour, 

 there is a resemblance to the eggs of these birds ; it is of a 

 pale olive-brown ground-colour, boldly marked with deep 

 brown. The chief breeding-places of the Dotterel are re- 

 ported to be the high latitudes of Russia, Lapland, and 

 Northern Asia ; while it also breeds on the mountains of 

 Norway, and in Bohemia and Silesia, at great elevations. 

 In the autumn and spring flocks of the Dotterel visit our 

 island from other parts ; in the former season, while seeking 

 warmer regions for their winter retreat, and in spring while 

 returning to their northern breeding stations. 



THE RINGED DOTTEREL. Charadrius hiaticula. This is 

 a constant resident with us on all our coasts which are 

 bounded by a sandy or gravelly beach. In winter some 

 visit us from higher latitudes, where they are only summer 

 visitants. This species breeds among the shingle of the 

 sea-shore, just out of water-mark, where a slight depression 

 serves them for a nest. The eggs are four in number, py- 



