THE RINGED PLOVER. 
99 
cubbin, at a short distance from the shore of Strangford lough. When 
ploughing the fields, the ploughman observed the eggs, and removed 
them, together with the elod of earth on whieh they lay, to a short 
distance in the ground already ploughed. In the course of the same 
day the bird was observed sitting on the eggs, which she sueceeded in 
hatehing. 
“ I have heard of instances of ringed dotterels depositing their eggs 
on the dried wrack cast up by the sea in winter above the ordinary 
high-water mark in Carnlough Bay (co. Antrim), but have never known 
‘ stems of dry grass,’ (as mentioned by Mr. Selby), or any other sub- 
stanee employed, ‘ to receive the eggs,’ save that in one nest, to which 
I called your attention last season, fragments of white shells had been 
collected together on a bed of dark-coloured gravel, so as to form a 
strong contrast in colour, not well calculated to avoid observation.”* 
P. S. — Since writing the foregoing note, I have examined upwards of twenty- 
nests of the ringed dotterel on the shores and islands of Strangford Lough, and, with 
a few exceptions, they contained fragments of shells of various hinds, evidently- 
carried to the spot by the bird. In one instance the eggs were deposited on dried 
sleech-grass {Zoster a marina), which had been cast on shore by a high tide in 
winter. 
11th June, 1849,” 
All the ringed plover produced in Ireland, form, I conceive, but 
a small proportion of those which frequent the coast for three- 
fourths of the year, and as numerously in winter as at any other 
period. t During many consecutive years I remarked this species 
to congregate in Belfast bay towards the time of its departure 
* This nest which was pointed out to me on the 1st of July, 1848, was placed 
several yards lower down on the pure gravelly beach than the line of broken shells, 
among which it could hardly have been discovered. It was in form deeper than a 
saucer, and wholly constructed of the shells of the common cockle {Cardium edule), 
which, in consequence of their whiteness, rendered it quite conspicuous among the 
dark grey gravel. It contained four eggs. The bird, perceiving om’ approach from 
a distance, left the nest, and ran seaward in perfect silence. There was another 
nest very near, among the shingle, the young birds of which were able to fly, and 
were then feeding along the margin of the water. 
On the 8th of May, 1849, a nest, containing four eggs, half incubated, was found 
OTi the Kinnegar. 
t In January 1849 I observed them on the sandy shores of Islay, off the western 
coast of Scotland ; they breed commonly in the island. The ringed plover was re- 
marked by the late Mr. Geo. Matthews to be plentiful in summer along the coast of 
Norway, from Trondjeim to the Alten Fiord. In winter they also appeared at some 
parts of the coast, but in much smaller numbers. 
