RINGED PLOVER. 
163 
or more, with the certainty of seeing a similar number, neither 
greater nor less than it was then. 
This harmless and familiar species is a universal favourite, 
even among those who consider no living thing worth notice 
which cannot either pay their rent or fill their stomachs, for 
which latter purpose the folk usually prefer some of the fatter 
and more strongly flavoured cliff birds. Occasionally it is easy 
to retire within oneself, and in imagination return to some of 
the old coast scenes. There, for instance, is the low-lying 
beach; there are the scattered industrious Dunlins and their 
congeners ; there are the startled Heron and the self- tormenting 
because ever suspicious Curlew, — each taking wing in its own 
peculiar manner, the one dignified and silent, the other head- 
long and noisy; there are the Gulls, some reflecting their snow- 
white hue upon the wet sand, causing them to appear more 
than double their actual size, or soaring overhead inquisitively, 
with their occasional impatient cry; there are the crisply curl- 
ing wavelets plashing up to one’s feet — the very recollection 
of their sound surrounding one with a fragrant marine atmo- 
sphere at all times enjoyable, and never more so than upon an 
early morning at the close of summer; but let the imagination 
fail to recall the sprightly little “ Sandy Laverock,” with its 
conspicuous yet sober plumage, and its clear cheerful note, and 
the picture, being unfaithful, loses its greatest charm. 
IMacgillivray well describes its feeding habits (vol. iv. p. 
120) : — “Their mode of proceeding differs considerably from that 
of the Tringa, with which they often associate. The bird stands, 
suddenly runs forward, picks up an object, stands again, and thus 
proceeds, somewhat in the manner of the Thrush. It does not 
probe the sand or mud with quickly repeated tappings of its 
bill, as is the habit of the bird just mentioned; but on the 
edge of the sea, when the tide is rising or retiring, it is in more 
constant motion than when on an exposed place.” 
During the breeding season the usual note of the male gives 
place to a peculiar cry resembling the words from which one of 
its provincial names is derived — clulwilly, dulwit — dulwillioo, 
