RINGED PLOVEI^ 
CIIARADlUm IIJATICULA. 
The Ringed Plover or Dotterel, as this species is sometimes called, is a resident on our shores, being 
met with in larger or smaller numbers on all parts of the coast-line of the British Islands that are 
suitable to its habits. To the marshes surrounding the freshwater broads of the east of Norfolk it is a 
frequent visitor, though not a summer resident ; on the warrens further inland several pairs of these 
birds, however, take up their quarters early in the spring and rear their young. In many parts of the 
Highlands Ringed Plovers resort to the shores of the lochs and the stony hanks adjoining the course of 
the rivers, taking up their quarters within a short distance of the water-side and departing with their 
broods for the sea-coast early in the autumn. 
The eggs of the Ringed Plover are usually laid on sand, fine gravel, or shingle near the sea-shore, 
the river-hanks, or the lochs where the birds have taken up their quarters. The nest, if it may be so 
termed, is occasionally merely a natural hollow or depression in the surface; at times it is evidently 
scratched out and a lining of small stones carefully added. In May 1866, Avhile staying at Rye in Sussex, 
I discovered a most elaborately constructed cradle on a grass-marsh, only a couple of years reclaimed by a 
mud wall from the saltwater flats of the Nook. Here in the fresh green turf the birds had scraped out 
a well-formed circular nest, in which they had arranged a copious lining of small flat white shells *. 
Considerable labour and time had evidently been expended in the collection of this attractive lining, as 
the whole must have been transported from the beach or shingle-banks, between a quarter and half a 
mile distant. 
At the commencement of the Preservation Act, when freed from the general perseeution to Avhich 
they had been exposed, the whole of the smaller Waders became at once exceedingly unsuspieious of 
danger. While on Breydon mudflats on the morning of the 8th of May, 1873, I remarked that the 
large flocks of Dunlins and Ringed Plovers drawn up alongside the channel paid but little attention 
to the gunning-punt, even when approaching to within the distance of three or four yards, affording 
excellent chances for Avatching their aetions as Avell as detecting any rarities in their ranks. Hundreds 
that Avere resting on one leg, Avith the head turned over on the back, only hopped a yard or two further 
on to the mud. 
Ringed Plover vary considerably in size and colouring ; those that remain along our southern coast- 
line during winter and take up their breeding-quarters in early spring on the extensive shingle-hanks of 
Kent and Sussex are a far larger race or form than those that reach these islands from across the 
Channel in flocks early in May. The residents, in addition to being considerably larger and consequently 
* This lining was removed and carefully packed away ; having been, however, unfortunately mislaid or lost, it is not now at hand to refer to. 
To the best of my memory it was mostly, if not entirely, composed of smaU round shells, and also parts of shells, with a shining silvery coating in 
the interior of the shell. 
