238 THE NESTS AND EGGS OF 



Breeding habits : The Common Stilt is with a few 



exceptions a summer migrant to Europe, and to such of 



its breeding grounds in Asia as are situated in northern 



districts. The bird is gregarious, and breeds in colonies 



of varying size, some consisting only of a few pairs, others 



of hundreds of pairs. The favourite haunts of this Stilt 



during; the nestincj season are salt marshes, the shores of 



lagoons, and low mud islands and banks. The nests are 



made in a great variety of situations, and vary considerably 



both in size and material. If the ground is wet the nest 



is bulkier than when on a dry site. Some nests are made 



absolutely in the water, heaps of dead reeds and other 



aquatic vegetation, rising several inches above the level 



of the water ; others are made on the mud, and are mere 



hollows lined with dry grass, broken reeds, and bits of 



rush-leaf. A most interesting breeding place of this Stilt 



is situated at some salt works near Delhi, in Upper India. 



These works consist of many acres of shallow lime-lined 



pools, divided from each other by strips of ground, from 



one to six feet in width. On these narrow strips and in the 



shallow pools the nests are made. They are very curious 



structures, little platforms made of bits of lime, raised 



about three inches high, and from seven to twelve inches 



across, on which a slight bed of dry grass is placed. 



Many nests are made close together, and the birds, 



through being left unmolested, are remarkably tame, 



allowing the workmen to pass them closely as they sit 



upon their eggs. When disturbed at the colony, the 



birds rise from their eggs, or run from them with elevated 



wings before taking flight, becoming very noisy and 



anxious for the safety of their nests. 



Range of egg colouration and measurement : 

 The eggs of the Common Stilt are four in number. 

 They are pyriform in shape and pale or dark buflish- 

 brown in ground colour, streaked, spotted, and blotched 



