114 THE ORNITHOLOGIST'S GUIDE 



I found it most numerous in the former coun- 

 try was the Holm of Eddy, and in the latter on 

 the island of Xoss near Lerwick. It constructs 

 its nest on low wet mossy heaths in exposed 

 situations. The female lays two eggs, and has 

 recourse to the same stratagem that the Plover 

 employs to decoy you from the nest ; but when 

 a person approaches near to the place where 

 the nest is built, becomes bold and fierce, and 

 strikes severely with the feet and bill. A dog I 

 had with me on my first visit had been so repeat- 

 edly and severely struck by this bird, that had he 

 heard one cry, the sound of which from experience 

 he was perfectly familiar with, he would instantly 

 come behind me for protection, and all my efforts 

 to make him hunt again were ineffectual until we 

 had got some distance from the place; another 

 dog I had with me on my second visit possessing 

 more courage than the former, after feeling the 

 effects of their bills and wings once or twice, and 

 appearing much astonished at such a foe, would 

 watch the bird pouncing at him and spring from 

 the ground to meet the attack, and by this means 

 he escaped many severe blows. There is a great 

 variety in the plumage of this bird, which in my 

 belief does not depend upon either age or sex. 

 In fact, in several pairs which I procured^ it was 



