178 



CHARADR1ID.E. 



The flight of the Dotterel is very quick, and the bird 

 is exceedingly dexterous in its motions ; it avoids flying 

 unnecessarily in windy weather, and when compelled to do 

 so, flies low to the ground. 



By nature this species is not shy, but rather the reverse, 

 and has consequently been called stupid, since it has, under 

 many circumstances, been approached by travellers and 

 sportsmen to within three or four yards ; and is even re- 

 ported to imitate the actions of a person who stops to 

 watch it on the ground ; it is also very frequently em- 

 ployed in dusting itself, and so allows persons to approach 

 it unnoticed ; but we do not believe all that is said respect- 

 ing its folly, as many well-known shy birds remain close 

 on the ground, not only when a sportsman approaches, 

 but even when a dog points the game out to its master ; 

 if the Dotterel should act the part of a mocking-bird, it 

 remains a question whether the antics of the bird or the 

 beholder are most calculated to excite risibility. 



The call-note of the Dotterel sounds like the word durrr 

 or drew, expressed more in the tone of a flute than in the 

 shrill note of a whistle ; it also utters the word dutt, dutt ! 

 while in the act of taking wing. 



In confinement this bird becomes soon tame, but, owing 

 to its tender nature, it hardly ever thrives above one year. 



The food of the Dotterel is chiefly insects and their 

 larvse, worms, and sometimes a little vegetable matter. The 

 worms are obtained towards the evening, and at other times 

 of the day small beetles and larvse of insects are carefully 

 picked up and greedily devoured. On the mountains in 

 the north countries, the smaller grasshoppers that abound 

 there have been found in this bird's stomach, and also the 

 tender leaves of the Geum montanum. In the evening the 

 bird approaches the water in order to quench its thirst or 



