118 



RING DOTTEEEL— Ringed Plover, (Charadrius hiaticula.) Linnaeus. 



Every person avIio has at any time occupied himself in shore-shooting, and who that 

 has lived at the sea-side has not done so, must be familiar with this very pretty and 

 lively little bird. It is very generally distributed round all our shores; wherever any 

 sand or shingle is left exposed by the retiring tide, there will this active little bird be 

 found foraging for food at the very edge of the water. 



Out of this country it occurs all over the shores of Northern Europe, and also Northern 

 America, and it is said to extend southwards as far as Asia Minor. 



The Ring Dotterel is resident with us throughout the whole year, but as the winter 

 draws on, a large accession to their numbers is received from the more northern and 

 inhospitable shores which they had sought for the purpose of incubation. Their migrations 

 are performed during the night. 



Although their habits are maritime, yet they will not unfrequently ascend some of our 

 rivers for considerable distances, for the purpose of incubation; sometimes as far as 

 twenty miles from the sea. They also frequent the extensive warrens of Norfolk and 

 Suffolk for the same purpose. In seeking its food, the Ring Dotterel runs along the 

 margin of the water very quickly, with its head and neck stretched forwards. It turns 

 sharply to either side, picking up little Crustacea, and other marine insects. It flies very 

 quickly; on being disturbed, it will fly a short distance seaward, returning again to the 

 land, and settling, probably within a couple of hundred yards of the point from which 

 it started. It is very fond of associating with the large flocks of Dunlins, ( Tringa vari- 

 abilis,) which frequent the same localities; and a Ring Dotterel not unfrequently falls 

 to the gun directed among a flock of Dunlins. They also unite together in small flocks, 

 but very frequently may be found in smaller numbers. In the spring they congregate 

 into large flocks, preparatory to migration. 



They are monogamous, and during the time of breeding are found more scattered in 

 single pairs than at other times. 



Their note is pleasing, though monotonous; the call-note has been syllabled by Meyer, 

 by the word 'trull,' 'trull,' 'trull;' and their cry, when alarmed, by the word 'truwee.' 

 As we have before remarked, it is by no means easy to convey by letters a correct idea 

 of the note of any bird. It must be heard to enable any one to recognise it. 



The food of this little Plover consists of minute Crustacea, and other marine insects; 

 of small shelled-mollusca, and probably insects of all kinds that come within its ken. 

 When frequenting the banks of rivers, inland lakes, or ponds, its food jjrobably consists 

 of the minute beetles so common in such situations, and some of the fresh-water mollusca. 



Pairing takes place early in the spring. 



The nest consists of a slight hollow in the sand or shingle of the beach they frequent. 



