THE DUNLIN. 153 



Some species of these birds, such as the Ring- 

 Dotterel, or Sea-Lark, have advantages over other 

 birds, with respect to their young, on the appear- 

 ance of danger, being enabled to carry them out of 

 harm's way. There can be no doubt of this curious 

 fact. One of these birds was seen on a rocky shore 

 in Anglesey, running over a sandy patch a few yards 

 off, accompanied by two young ones. On finding 

 herself surprised, she immediately rose with one of 

 the young ones, either caught up, or clinging to her 

 by its own instinctive efforts. Whether from a wish 

 to remain as near as possible, while the other was in 

 danger, or from the additional weight, could not be 

 ascertained, but her flight was short, and she alighted 

 on a rock at no great distance. The remaining little 

 one was with difficulty overtaken, as it ran with 

 great activity and swiftness, although very young, 

 being covered with down, and evidently not long 

 hatched. Most of the little birds of this tribe make 

 no regular nests, but deposit their eggs, four in 



Eggs of the Dunlin. 



number, either on the bare sand, just beyond the 

 high-water mark, or, like the Dunlin, or Sea-Snipe, 



