The Golden Plover may be found all over Britain, where it remains throughout the year, generally resorting to the heaths, downs, or marshes to breed. Its nest is merely a few stems of grass and vegetable fibres laid in a slight hollow in the ground, just about large enough to contain the eggs, which are usually four in number, of a yellowish stone colour, blotted and spotted with brownish black. They are generally placed with great regularity, with the smaller ends meeting in the centre; they are laid early in June. The young leave the nest as soon as hatched, and are able to support themselves in a month or five weeks. DOTTEREL. DOTTREL. DOTTEREL PLOVER. FIGURE 33. This, the _Charadrius morinellus_ of naturalists, is another lively and beautiful bird, more so, perhaps, than the species last described, having greater variety and more distinct markings in the plumage. The crown and sides of the head are black, with a white band proceeding from above each eye, running down into a point, and nearly meeting another band from the back of the head; the throat is white, tinged and spotted with grey, which is the colour of the breast, which is divided from the orange-coloured belly by a broad waved band of white; black and bright yellow complete the under parts; the back, wings, and tail are brown and black, the larger feathers being distinctly edged with golden yellow. "The Dotterel," says Morris, "has acquired the character of being a foolish bird, hence its English name from the word to dote, and its Latin one from the word _morio_--a foolish fellow." The bird was formerly supposed to imitate the actions of the fowler, and so to fall into the trap, instead of providing for its escape by a timely flight. The Dotterel, which is a migratory bird, frequents open and exposed situations, wide heaths and barren mountainous districts, where it generally breeds. Any hollow in the ground serves it for a nest, which is composed of a few lichens, not woven but merely laid together. The eggs are seldom more than three in number; they are generally laid in June; the colour is a deep yellowish brown, or it may be a fine grey, thickly spotted, especially about the darker end, with dark or reddish brown, and deep grey. RINGED PLOVER. RING, OR STONE PLOVER. RINGED DOTTEREL. SAND LARK, OR LAVROCK. DULL-WILLY. SANDY-LOO. FIGURE 34.