ii8 The Field Naturalisfs Quarterly May 



having a look for eggs, if only on the chance of coming across 

 some abnormal specimens. The colour-markings and size of 

 the eggs of the Common Plover, Redshank, and Snipe vary 

 considerably, all being usually both handsome and attractive. 

 These three birds, if disturbed whilst sitting, leave their eggs 

 in the order named. The Plover, building quite an open 

 nest, is very shy, and sneaks off at the first sign of danger, 

 whilst the Redshank and Snipe, though about equally well 

 concealed by the tussock containing their nest, are not 

 equally trustful in remaining on their eggs, possibly because 

 the Redshank frequently builds in a solitary tussock, whilst 

 the Snipe always chooses a site in which the surrounding 

 vegetation is of equal height and denseness. 



Some readers may take exception to my writing of the 

 ne^U of the Plover. These may in certain localities, perhaps, 

 be correctly described as mere *' scrabs," and so they are 

 here sometimes until the first egg is laid. But subsequently 

 more short pieces of grass and rush are added, especially in 

 wet situations, and I have frequently taken a good double 

 handful of stuff from a full nest. So protectively coloured 

 are the eggshells of these three species that to a novice they 

 are very difficult to find. Plovers nest with us in decreasing 

 numbers. Thirty years ago the drier marshes near the coast, 

 practically useless for agricultural purposes and given up to 

 rabbits, used to yield a sort of catch crop in the shape of 

 plover's eggs, which were systematically gathered, and many 

 a day's compulsory apprenticeship have I served amongst 

 them in bygone Easter holidays. Every foot of ground had 

 to be inspected, and for this purpose the searchers formed a 

 line and kept it, carefully, slowly, and methodically tramping 

 up and down until every marsh was examined. It was not 

 bad fun at first, but soon became wearisome. 



In these latter days of decreased variety of bird-life, pro- 

 tection by law, and preservation by individual effort, seem 

 at anyrate likely to prevent any further diminution in the 

 number of species which breed here, if indeed one or two 

 species may not be tempted to return to their former spring 

 quarters. Ruffs and Reeves still visit us annually, and a 

 few have already put in an appearance this month (April). 

 Some years ago I was singularly fortunate in making a close 



