"O cassell's book of birds. 



showing any symptoms of alarm, and frequently afterwards, when within a few paces watching 

 their movements, some would move slowly about and pick up an insect, others would remain 

 motionless, now and then stretching out their wings, and a few would occasionally tug with 

 each other, at the same time uttering a few notes which had some resemblance to those of the 

 Common Linnet. In short, they appeared to be so very indifferent with regard to our presence, that 

 at last my assistant could not avoid exclaiming, 'What stupid birds these are!' The female that 

 had young nevertheless evinced considerable anxiety for their safety, whenever we came near 

 the place where they were concealed, and as long as we remained in the vicinity, she constantly 

 flew to and fro above us, uttering her note of alarm. As soon as the young birds were fully feathered, 

 two were killed for the purpose of examining their plumage in this state, and we found that after they 

 had been fired at once or twice they became more wary, and eventually we had some little difficulty 

 in approaching sufficiently near to effect our purpose. The stomachs I dissected were all filled 

 with the elytra and remains of small coleopterous insects, which in all probability constitute their 

 principal food during the breeding season." 



The pear-shaped eggs of the Dotterel are three or four in number, and have a smooth lustreless 

 shell, of a pale yellowish brown or greenish hue, irregularly spotted with white. Upon one occasion 

 we accidentally disturbed a brood, and having taken the young in our hand and shown them 

 to the mother, she at once boldly ruffled her feathers, shook her wings, and endeavoured to excite 

 pity by a variety of gesticulations. No sooner were the prisoners released than she uttered a cry 

 of delight, and gathered them under her wings, after the manner of a Barn-door Fowl. The flesh 

 of this Plover is extremely delicate. 



The SHORE PLOVERS ^^Egialites) occupy the sandy or gravelly shores of rivers on the 

 sea-coast, and are characterised by their comparatively small size, delicate beaks, long pointed wings, 

 and the uniform hue of the sandy plumage on the upper parts of the body. The under side is white, 

 and the neck encircled by a band. 



THE LITTLE SHORE PLOVER, OR LITTLE RINGED PLOVER. 



The Little Shore Plover, or Little Ringed Plover (AZgialites minor), as the best known 

 species is called, scarcely exceeds a Lark in size ; the length of the body being about six inches and 

 a half, and the span of the wing eighteen inches. The wing measures four inches and one-third, and 

 the tail three inches and one-third. In this bird the cheeks, crown of the head, and upper portions of 

 the plumage are earthy grey, the under side is white as far as the throat, round which passes a black 

 band ; the quills, bridles, and a streak on the brow are also black. The latter is bounded by a white 

 line, which is again edged with black. The eye is dark brown, with a circle around it of King's 

 yellow j the beak is black, and the foot reddish grey. All these colours are paler in the female. The 

 young are without the black collar on the neck. This species is met with throughout Europe, 

 almost the whole of Asia, and a great portion of the African continent. It, however, only visits, 

 the more southern countries during the course of its migrations, which extend from August and 

 September to March or April. Southern Europe is, we believe, the farthest point at which it is 

 known to breed. In the northern portions of the globe it almost exclusively frequents the rush- 

 covered banks of marshy water at some distance from the sea, but occasionally, during the winter 

 journeyings, which they make in large flocks, these birds are seen upon the coast. 



The Little Ringed Plover is rare in Great Britain. Mr. Gould says, " We are indebted to 

 our friend Mr. Doubleday, of Epping, for the loan of an example of this elegant little Plover, 

 which he informs us was taken at Shoreham, in Sussex. From the extreme youth of the specimen 



