178 CHARADRIAD.E. 



dotterel drew up his. This story may, doubtless, have origi- 

 nated from its heedlessness of danger, and, when alarmed, 

 its habit of extending the wings and running before the in- 

 truder. 



Possessing the same gastronomic attractions for which the 

 lapwing is so sought after, the flesh of this species is highly 

 esteemed, and will bring from five to six shillings a couple in 

 the London markets. 



Habitat Southern Europe. 



SPECIES 169 THE RING DOTTEREL. 



Charadrius hiaticula. Linn. 

 Grand Pluvier a collier. Temm. 



Ring Plover. Bull's Eye. Sand-lark. 

 THIS beautiful little plover is well known upon the coast for 

 its handsome plumage and shrill melodious whistle. Gene- 

 rally occurring in pairs, we may at all times discern them 

 running upon the shingle of our own bay, with neck retracted, 

 in search of food. Seldom occurring in flocks, the sociability 

 of its habits induces it to join the company of the dunlins and 

 knots, all three species being constantly observed together. 



Towards spring they prepare to incubate, and for that pur- 

 pose frequent sand-hills, or ranges of low beaches. In such a 

 locality, in the vicinity of Rush, county of Dublin, we had the 

 pleasure of discovering a nest containing young birds, in May, 

 1852, and at the same time an opportunity of observing its 

 habit of decoying intruders from its nest. The female running 

 along the strand first drew our attention by endeavouring to 

 skulk away without attracting notice, but as our way was 

 directed over the site of the nest, in a moment she was circling 

 round us, and at the first sound of her plaintive whistle the 

 male joined her, and both uttered their call-note in the most 

 pitiable agony ; when kneeling on the shingle to examine the 

 young, either bird would perch at a distance and look in the 

 direction of the nest, which they feared to lose, and again 

 recur to their former cries and circling flight. However, 

 with the exception of handling their young, they received 

 no further molestation or annoyance. 



On two occasions we have received the eggs from breed- 

 ing stations on the Wicklow coast, where they occur in limited 

 numbers along the sand-hills on the shore. 



Indigenous. 



