DULWILLY. 



141 



DUCKER. — A name for several of the Grebes. 

 DULWILLY {Charadrius Hiaticula, Linnaeus.) 



Charadrius Hiaticula, Linn. Syst. 1. p. 253. 1 Gmel. Syst. 2. p. 683. — Rail, 



Syn. p. 112. A. 6 190. 13 Will. p. 230. t. 57 Ind. Oin. 2. p. 743. 8 



Temm. Man. d'Orn. 2. p. 539 Flem. Br. Anim. p. 113 — Pluvialis torquata 



minor, Briss. 5. p. 63. 8. t. 5. f. 2 lb. 8vo. 1. p. 227 — Petit Pluvier a collier, 



Buff. Ois. 8. p. 90. t. 6 Sea Lark, Albin, 1. t. 80.— Will. (Angl.) p. 310. t. 



57 Pinged Plover, Br. Zool. 2. No. 211 lb. p. 129. t. Add — Arct. Zool. 2. 



No. 401.— Lath. Syn. 5. p. 201. 8 Lewin's Br. Birds, 5. t. 184.— Wale. Syn. 



2. t. 161 Don. Br. Birds, 1. t. IQ.—Pult. Cat. Dorset, p, 16. 



Provincial. — Ring Dottrel. Sand Laverock. 



This species weighs about two ounces ; length between seven and 

 eight inches. Bill half an inch long, the base half orange, the other 

 black ; irides hazel. At the base of the upper mandible the feathers 

 are black, which passes in a broad streak under the eye, taking in the 

 coverts of the ears ; forehead white, behind which, on the top of the 

 head, is a black band from eye to eye : over the eye a streak of white 

 passing backwards ; chin and throat white, continuing in a circle round 

 the neck ; beneath this, on the lower part of the neck, is a broad black 

 band encircling that part ; the back of the head and upper parts of the 

 body and "wing coverts pale brown ; under parts white ; quills dusky, 

 with some white at their base ; shafts partly white ; tail consists of 

 twelve feathers, the two middle brown, dusky towards the tips ; the 

 three next black towards the end ; in the next is only a brown band on 

 the inner web ; the outer one quite white ; the whole tipped the same i 

 legs orange ; claws black. 



When flying, this bird shews a white bar on the wing, by reason of 

 the base of the quills and tips of some of the greater coverts being of 

 that colour. 



The Ring Plover is a plentiful species in most parts of the known 

 world. In England every part of the coast is enlivened with its 

 shrill note. It has been said to leave us in the autumn ; but this is 

 certainly not the case, as we have frequently procured them throughout 

 the severest winters in Devonshire, Cornwall, and other places ; but at 

 this time they quit the open shores, and seek shelter in creeks and 

 inlets. 



Early in May they pair, and we have found their eggs as early as 

 the twentieth of that month. It makes no nest, but lays four eggs in 

 a small cavity in the sand just above high-water mark. These are of 

 a cinereous-brown, marked all over with small black and ash-coloured 

 spots ; weight three drams. It is remarkable that these, as well as 

 most if not all species of birds that lay invariably four eggs only on the 

 ground, place them so as to occupy the least possible space ; that is, 



