96 



THE RINGED PLOVER. 



Ringed Dotterel. 

 Charadrius hiaticula, Linn. 



Is common at all seasons, except summer, in small flocks 

 around the sandy or gravelly shores ; — where also 

 a limited number annually breed. 



Nowhere has this handsomely marked bird appeared to me so in- 

 teresting as about the extensive tracts of sand hills, which, 

 assuming the form of a tempest-tost ocean, bound long stretches 

 of sea-coast of the same nature. Though their only- vegetation 

 consists of occasional tufts of the sea reed (AmmopMla arundina- 

 cea, Host.) or the upright lyme-grass [Mymns arenarius, Linn.), 

 whose glaucous or bluish-green leaves have such a peculiar 

 aspect and fine effect in connexion with the richly toned sand, 

 this bird has often its nest amid them, and attracts us by ma- 

 noeuvres similar to those of the lapwing to withdraw attention 

 from its young. 



About the gravelly shore of the Great Copeland Island, off the 

 coast of Down, I remarked (11th and 12th June 1827) that 

 numbers of these birds were breeding, as I subsequently did, 

 about the islets of Strangford lough. * Of their breeding gene- 

 rally around the Irish coast, I have no doubt, from the circum- 

 stance of my meeting with them paired in summer at all suitable 

 localities. On the borders of Dublin Bay, the coast of Wexford, t 

 the sea-shore adjacent to Youghal, that of Bantry Bay, &c, this 



* June 20, 1832. We shot a young bird of the year here, which was almost full adult 

 size; and likewise found a nest with eggs. On the 25th June, 1836, a nest with 

 eggs was observed. In the same month of 1846 I remarked several pah 1 at islets 

 not previously visited. During the first week of March, 1847, these birds were 

 observed to be partially paired here. Mr. J. R. Garrett, when visiting the shores and 

 islands of this lough, on the 3rd of June, 1849, found that these birds had bred and 

 were breeding in all quarters. . He saw at least twenty of their nests, and procured a 

 dozen of their eggs. On the 6th of the same month he saw, on other islands of the 

 lough, a number of their nests, three of which only, then contained eggs. 



f Mr. Poole has found the eggs here on the 6th of May, where " they are either 

 laid on the sand or in small nests formed of dried plants." 



