DOTTREL PLOVER. 



469 



the back, and the wings, are greyish brown : the 

 edges of the feathers are pale rust-colour, and the 

 lower part of the back and the rump incline to 

 grey : the greater quills are brown ; the outer edge 

 and shaft of the first white : the fore-part of the 

 neck olive-grey, varied near the throat with white : 

 the lower part of the neck is bounded by a black 

 line, beneath which is one of white : the breast 

 and sides are pale dull orange ; the middle of the 

 belly black ; its lower part and thighs reddish 

 white : the tail olive-brown, with a dusky bar 

 towards the tip, which is white, as are also the 

 edges of the two outer feathers : legs black. The 

 female is rather larger : the colours are more dull : 

 the breast has a white line, and the belly is black, 

 varied with w^hite : the stripe over the eye is nar- 

 rower than in the male. The young have the 

 whole of the under parts of the body of a pale 

 ferruginous brown. 



These birds inhabit the northern parts of Asia 

 and Europe, frequenting the muddy borders of 

 rivers, and breeding in the alpine lands : they are 

 very stupid, and may be taken by the most simple 

 artifice ; so that it was formerly the custom to 

 go in quest of them in the night, wdth a lighted 

 torch or candle, and the birds on these occasions 

 will mimic the actions of the fowler with great 

 archness ; when he stretches out an arm, they 

 stretch out their wings ; if he moves a foot, they 

 move one also, and every other motion they en- 

 deavour to imitate. This is the opportunity the 

 fowler takes of entangling them in his net. At 



