ioo THE BRITISH NATURE BOOK 



Wryneck ; but in spite of its being a migrant from Africa, it seldom takes 

 to flight, but prefers to run. 



The nest is almost always in tall grass, and consists of a few leaves and 

 grasses, placed in a depression in the ground. 



The eggs, seven to twelve, are reddish white, spotted with reddish brown 

 and ash-grey, and are generally laid in May. 



[Note the family (Rallidce) to which the bird belongs, which contains both 

 Coot and Moorhen. All the members possess the same characteristic shape.] 



Dotterel. This is one of the rarest of our British Plovers, a very handsome, 

 upright-standing bird, identified by a white band across the upper portion 

 of the breast, and by the beautiful chestnut colour below. The head has a 

 distinct white line over each eye, joining in a sharp point at the back of the 

 neck, making a V shape behind. Upper parts, a bluish grey, with pale 

 margins to the feathers. Belly, white. 



The bird is a summer visitor, appearing at the end of April or early May, 

 and making its way northwards to its breeding places in Scotland, and (very 

 sparsely) in the Lake District. Its nest, a mere scrape in the ground, with 

 a scanty lining of dried grass, is only found high up on a mountain slope, 

 generally 2,500-3,000 feet above the sea. 



The eggs are usually three " clay-yellow, blotched with black markings " 

 and are found in June. 



The food consists of insects, chiefly beetles and their larvae, land shells, 

 and a little vegetation. 



The call-note is a sweet " Wit-a-wee " ; but there is also an ugly and 

 common cry, " Peek-peek," said to resemble the regular creak of an unoiled 

 wheelbarrow. 



Dove, Turtle. There are four species of the " Pigeon " family (Colum- 

 bida) which breed in these islands, of which the Turtle Dove is the smallest 

 (11.25 inches). Its colour is a chestnut-brown above, with a tinge of slate- 

 blue, and black centres to the feathers ; a bluish grey head ; on each side of 

 the neck a patch of black and white feathers, in alternate bars. The wings 

 are of rich red-brown on the wing coverts and scapulars (with black centres 

 to the feathers). The tail is noticeably broad and tipped with white. The 

 sides of the face and throat are a buff colour, with a tinge of pink, deeper on 

 the chest, and passing to white on the belly. 



The bird is easily distinguished in flight by the chestnut colour and the 

 white margin to the tail, and otherwise by its soft purring " Coo-coo-coo." 



This species is a summer visitor only, disappearing, unlike the British 

 pigeons, during the winter. It is somewhat rare in the North and in Ireland, 

 and is chiefly found in the South. It winters in North Africa. The nest is 

 a very flimsy structure of twigs, placed in a tree, bush, or hedge, generally 

 low down. The eggs are two in number, white, and rather long in shape. Its 

 food consists of grain, seeds, and berries, and also small mollusca. It 

 appears fond of salt water, and is often abundant near the coast. 



