Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 1 (1897).djvu/532

as early as February 7th. Ringed Plovers were numerous on March 13th, 1835; commenced laying on April 1st; a nest with four eggs found on June 5th, and all departed by August 30th. In the following year they were again numerous on March 13th, but took their departure a week earlier, on August 23rd. Personally I have never seen them on Thetford Warren before March; but this doubtless arises from my limited opportunities of observation, rather than from a later inland migration. Clutches of two eggs have been found by March 30th. Nest there is none, as a rule, the merest hollow in the sand being utilised. Very rarely there are a few short pieces of dried grass. September 1st is the latest date on which the Ringed Plovers have been seen in the district. Their departure is usually taken about mid-August, which accounts for the local remark that they "go with the Cuckoos." The Ringed Plover is known locally as the "Stonehatch" or "Ring Dotterel," the former being more generally used. It is worthy of mention that the bracken-covered areas of our large warrens are not beloved of the Ringed Plover, but that it haunts stone-covered patches which are perfectly open. In such spots it is almost impossible to discover the Ringed Plover when motionless; when running the eye is attracted by the action. If one wanders too near the nest both birds will fly round and round the intruder's head, uttering their short mellow whistle. And if there should be nestlings they will feign a broken wing—anything to draw attention to themselves rather than their young. These tactics, however, are not always successful, and the men who can always find the nest of a Lapwing by the actions of the hen bird, can in like manner find that of the Ringed Plover; and I fear that even these eggs are sold, with those of Black-headed Gulls, Snipe, and sundry others, as "Plovers' eggs."