VOL. XI.] BREEDING-HABITS OF DOTTEREL. 11 
been the same bird and her prosperous brood. All four 
birds seemed quite unconcerned at my presence and 
must have been there for some time. I lay and watched 
them for a while, enjoying a sight that seemed so secure 
and happy, when suddenly it was rudely interrupted by 
a Rough-legged Buzzard which came sailing over the hill. 
The three young ones flew away at once—they were not 
taking any chances under a trial of colour protection— 
and the Buzzard, recognizing, I suppose, that they were 
strong on the wing, ignored them and went on looking 
for Lemmings. But the adult Dotterel lay down sideways 
(the old trick) and made pretence most sorrowfully, 
fluttering about the tundra, as if the brood were still in 
the down. Jt seemed a queer thing—for life to play at 
cross purposes with itself. One bird offered to sacrifice 
herself for young which did not need it, to another who 
did not expect it: thus, so I interpreted his behaviour, 
mistrusted, and therefore ignored it. Probably the 
Buzzard had been hoaxed in that way before, for at first 
he took no notice of the little martyr’s invitation. 
However, as she became more insistent, he stooped at 
her as she fluttered over the ridge. He would probably 
have missed her, for a Dotterel’s flight has incalculable 
twists, but I was not going to let her suffer for her heroic 
stupidity, and so sent a charge of small-shot after the 
Buzzard. It did not ruffle his feathers, but he sheered 
off majestically, and gave the Dotterel a chance to whizz 
over the hill after her brood. 
