58 NATURAL HISTORY. 



The anxiety exhibited by these little Plovers, when they have 

 yonng, and their many devices to entice intruders away from their 

 vicinity, quite equals anything recorded of the Lapwing. On the 

 17th April, while wandering on the banks of a nullah, my atten- 

 tion was arrested by the peculiar movements of one of these 

 birds. It was lying on its side as if in death agony with its wings 

 fluttering and quivering ; it would make an attempt to fly, but 

 after proceeding a yard or two it would fall down headlong as if 

 shot. Suspecting that it had eggs or young near, I made a diligent 

 search, but could find nothing, the bird all the time accompanying 

 me and making the most frantic efforts to distract my attention. 

 I left oft searching, but carefully watched the bird from a dis- 

 tance. After a short time it settled itself down, as a hen would squat- 

 ting over chicks. I carefully marked the spot, made a sudden rush at it, 

 and then on my hands and knees I carefully felt all round, and 

 presently found a tiny fluffy chick, apparently stone dead. I thought 

 that I must have stepped upon it and killed it. I felt very sorry, tut 

 all at once I saw the little beggar open one eye and take a look at 

 me. I placed it on the ground, and taking my eye off of it for a 

 moment, it disappeared ; and it was only after a long and painstaking 

 search that I again found it, still apparently dead. I moved a few 

 paces away and watched it. After a moment it opened its eyes, gave 

 a slight stretch, and disappeared as if by magic. I found three 

 broken egg shells close by, and they appeared as if the chicks 

 had only just been hatched, and there must have been two others 

 close by me, although they escaped my search. 



855. — LoMvantllus indicus : Bodd. 



The Red-wattled Lapwing breeds from April to July. There is 

 no nest. The eggs, four in number, are placed on the ground, 

 almost always in the vicinity of water. They are broad oval in 

 shape, much pointed at one end, or I should say a peg-top shape. 

 They vary somewhat in colour, but are usually of a yellowish buff, 

 blotched and streaked with reddish brown. They measure 1'64 

 inches in length by about 1*25 in breadth. 



856. — Loh'phwia Malalarica : Bodd. 

 The Yellow-wattled Lapwing breeds during April and May. 

 There is no nest. The eggs, four in number, are deposited on the 

 bare ground, without any attempt at concealment ; they are not 

 partial to water, but frequent by preference bare sandy plains. The 

 eggs are similar in shape to those of Lobivanellus indicus, but 



