258 BIRDS OF THE WEST OF SCOTLAND. 



to any of the ills that beset the genus homo, or we should know 

 still less of their nesting habits at a time when the breeding 

 stations are so sparingly inhabited. 



I may here mention that in Mr Dunn's copy of Messrs Bailde 

 and Heddle's Fauna Orcadensis there is the following manuscript 

 note: " Delete, ' remains during winter, and leaves in spring for 

 more northern regions.'" The same note states that the Dotterel 

 breeds in the Orkneys. 



THE RINGED PLOVER 



CHARADRIUS HIAT1CULA. 

 Bodhag. Trileachan traighe. 



IN its spring plumage, the little " sandy laverock," as this species 

 is called, is perhaps the most pleasing arid attractive object to be 

 seen by the naturalist in his shore rambles. Its sprightly move- 

 ments, and clear contrasting colours, as it runs hurriedly along 

 the smooth golden strand, at once arrest the eye, and few persons 

 fail to discover in this beautiful creature the plaintive piper that 

 had so often in the previous autumn charmed them with its mellow 

 call-note. I have nowhere been more interested with it than in 

 the Outer Hebrides a district throughout which it abounds at all 

 seasons of the year. Towards evening, in the month of September, 

 when walking along the sandy bays of Benbecula, I have been 

 startled with its cry, even after the sun had gone down and left all 

 in comparative darkness. This note fell upon the ear with a strange 

 effect as the flowing waves came seething up on the dry sand and 

 disturbed the sleeping birds. That part of the coast being but 

 little visited, the little Plovers were exceedingly tame and fearless, 

 allowing me to walk within a few feet of them. Often I imagined 

 that they met me in my walks and alighted in wonderment near 

 their extraordinary visitor. On several occasions, indeed, I 

 observed them halt in their flight, and sit down on the sandy 

 expanse right in front, saluting me with a gentle whistle. But in 

 such places man is not their worst enemy. Writing from lona, 

 Mr Graham mentions regarding Ringed Plovers that they are 

 regularly hunted and captured by the ermine. " They seem," 

 says Mr Graham, "to be a good deal persecuted by the stoat, 

 whose tiny foot-marks I have frequently observed imprinted on the 



