Some Remarkable Nests and Eggs. 85 



shown in our illustration, they practically cover a 

 square and prevent the waste of nuich-needed space 

 between them. I have over and over again tested 

 the mother bird's appreciation of the value of this 

 shape as a space economiser by turning one of her 

 eggs sharp end outwards, for she always promptly 

 altered my arrangement when she returned. Any- 

 one taking a piece of wire and making a ring round 

 a Lapwing's eggs with it as they lie in the nest 

 just as the bird left them, and then turning them 

 all so that their round ends arc in the centre, will 

 tind that their sharp points protrude such a long 

 Avay over the wire, as shown in the illustration below, 

 that they are much less easy to cover by the 

 parent bird. 



The colour and markings of some eggs play a 

 very im])ortant part in their preservation. Those 

 of the Kentish and Ringed Plovers are splendid 

 examples of protective coloration, for they often 



I'EIiWIT's EGOS, (]) WITH POIXTEI) ENDS IX, (2) WITH TOINTEl) 

 ENDS OUT, 



