UPLAND PLOVER 59 



Edward R. Ford has the following observation on the selection 

 of a nesting site: 



As in the case of the larger ground-nesting birds, whose nests have little 

 architectural pretension, the upland plover often deposits the first egg before 

 any nest-building operations have been begun. It is probable that the physio- 

 logical condition of the female urges her to seek a location generally favorable 

 to the successful rearing of a brood; but the exact site of the nest may be 

 in some measure accidental. It is not often that one may be fortunate enough 

 to come upon the kind of evidence best calculated to prove a theory of animal 

 behavior, but it happened once that we found a single egg of the upland plover, 

 unbetrayed by the presence of the parent and hidden deep in the grass. It 

 might have been an egg prematurely laid and, therefore, not likely to receive 

 further parental attention. If it had been a meadow lark's egg, for example, 

 that would have been the conclusion and the facts of experience would have 

 borne it out. But here was the chance to test a theory and so, while not 

 surprised, we were gratified, three days later, to flush a bird from the spot 

 marked as the location of the single egg and to find there the full complement 

 of four. About these the dry grass had taken hemispherical form and, with 

 the addition of loose material and by reason of the impression made by the 

 eggs themselves, as well as by the body of the parent, there now existed a 

 well-defined if simple nest. 



Eggs. — The upland plover lays four eggs, rarely five, and perhaps 

 sometimes only three. These are ovate to short ovate in shape, less 

 pointed than most shore birds' eggs; and they have only a slight 

 gloss. In the commonest types the ground colors vary from " light 

 pinkish cinnamon " to " pale pinkish buff" ; in others they vary 

 from " cartridge buff " or " pale olive buff " to greenish white. They 

 are more or less evenly spotted with small spots of various shades of 

 dark browns or reddish browns, and usually with small underlying 

 spots, rarely large blotches, of " ecru drab " or " pale drab gray." 

 The measurements of 66 eggs in the United States National Museum 

 average 45 by 32.5 millimeters; the eggs showing the four extremes 

 measure 51 by 33, 48 by 35, 41.5 by 32.5, and 48 by 29.5 millimeters. 



Young. — The incubation period is said to be 17 days, but this needs 

 confirmation. Both sexes share in the duties of incubation and care 

 of the young. Katharine U. Hunter (1916) says: 



The birds relieved each other at the nest — a true division of domestic cares : 

 one bird would alight at a long distance, fold his wings, utter no cry, and, 

 with head held low, walk through the grass, squatting lower and lower till 

 finally he disappeared on the nest ; then the female would retreat with the 

 same caution, not spreading her wings till far from the eggs. 



Doctor Coues (1874) describes the behavior of young birds and 

 their parents very well, as follows : 



Young birds are abroad late in June — curious little creatures, timid and weak, 

 led about by their anxious parents, solicitous for their welfare, and ready to 

 engage in the most unequal contests in their behalf. When half grown, but 

 still in the down, the little creatures have a curious clmusy, top-heavy look; 



