64 British Birds, with their Nests and Eggs. 



matter is this, that when suitable food becomes scarce in any locality the Coursers 

 go elsewhere — like the IMantchurian (Pallas') Sand- Grouse. The best field-notes 

 on the habits of the Courser are those of Favier (see Irby, " Orn. Straits Gibr." 

 in loc:); Hume ("Stray Feathers," I.e.); and Meade- Waldo ("Ibis," 1889, 505, 

 I.e.) The first represents the note of the female at pairing time, by the formula 

 rererer ; the last, the note at the nest as a low qua-qua. But the bird is a verj- 

 silent one, found, out of the breeding season, in small parties of perhaps one 

 family onl}', on dry sandy or stony plains, feeding on grasshoppers, plant-bugs, 

 beetles, grubs, flies, snails, and in confinement (Meade- A\^aldo) on pieces of lizard. 

 They would probably take kindly, in this country, to the meal-worm, and the 

 familiar domestic cockroach. When feeding at large "they run rapidly for a few 

 3^ards and then stop, standing for a second or two very erect ; again they dart off 

 in another direction, pick up an insect, and again stand still watching for the 

 next victim. They are easily approached if you walk round them, as recommended 

 for Florican" (Hume, "Stray Feathers," 1876, p. 11). "Sleep and rest in a 

 sitting position, with their legs doubled up under them" (Favier, I.e.). " In flocks 

 they were very wild, and reminded me generally of Lapwings" (Meade- Waldo, 

 I.e.). 



Family— CHAR A DRIID^. 



Dotterel. 



Eiidroviias morinelliis, LiXN. 



THE name "Dotterel" (related apparently to "dote" and "dotard"), seems 

 to have been applied to this bird owing to its foolishly tame habits at 

 certain seasons ; the specific Latin name also is probably a diminutive of the Greek 

 word for a fool. 



