96 
THE EINGED PLOVER. 
Ringed Dotterel. 
Charadrius hiaticula, Linn. 
Is common at all seasons, except summer, in small flocks 
around the sandy or gravelly shores ; — where also 
a limited number annually breed. 
Nowhere has this handsomely marked bird appeared to me so in- 
teresting as about the extensive tracts of sand hills, which, 
assuming the form of a tempest-tost ocean, bound long stretches 
of sea-coast of the same nature. Though their only vegetation 
consists of occasional tufts of the sea reed [Ammophila arundina- 
cea, Host.) or the upright lyme-grass [Tdlymus arenarius, Linn.), 
whose glaucous or bluish-green leaves have such a peculiar 
aspect and fine effect in connexion with the richly toned sand, 
this bird has often its nest amid them, and attracts us by ma- 
noeuvres similar to those of the lapwing to withdraw attention 
from its young. 
About the gravelly shore of the Great Copeland Island, off the 
coast of Down, I remarked (11th and 12th June 1827) that 
numbers of these birds were breeding, as I subsequently did, 
about the islets of Strangford lough."^ Of their breeding gene- 
rally around the Irish coast, I have no doubt, from the circum- 
stance of my meeting with them paired in summer at all suitable 
localities. On the borders of Dublin Bay, the coast of Wexford,! 
the sea-shore adjacent to Youghal, that of Bantry Bay, &c., this 
* June 20, 1832. We shot a young bird of the year here, which was almost full adult 
size; and likewise found a nest with eggs. On the 25th June, 1836, a nest with 
eggs was observed. In the same month of 1846 I remarked several pair at islets 
not previously visited. During the first week of March, 1847, these birds were 
observed to be partially paired here. Mr. J. R. Garrett, when visiting the shores and 
islands of this lough, on the 3rd of June, 1849, found that these birds had bred and 
were breeding in all quarters. He saw at least twenty of their nests, and procm’ed a 
dozen of their eggs. On the 6th of the same month he saw, on other islands of the 
lough, a number of their nests, three of which only, then contained eggs. 
t Mr. Poole has found the eggs here on the 6th of May, where “ they are either 
laid on the sand or in small nests formed of dried plants.” 
