EUEOPEAlsr CUELEW HI 



heather on moorlands among short or long heather ; others will breed 

 among the long, wiry grass of high levels or on short-cropped pasture 

 lands. A tussock in the middle of a wet bog may be used, or, excep- 

 tionally, the nest may be in a plowed field. There is not much effort 

 at concealment, but the sentry is generally on watch to warn the 

 sitting bird. Occasionally I have known a bird allow approach 

 within a few yards, and Mr. Fenwick records a case in which the 

 sitting bird allowed itself to be stroked and even lifted from the eggs. 

 As a rule, the bird leaves the nest long before the intruder comes 

 anywhere near. The nest is about 5 to 51/2 inches across. 



Eggs. — The eggs, which are normally four, are occasionally only 

 three or sometimes five. Of this latter number I have about a dozen 

 records. The only recorded case of six was probably due to two hens 

 laying together. The eggs are very large for the size of the bird, 

 pyriform in shape and very thin shelled, and are not laid on consecu- 

 tive days. In color they range from light green to olive green or 

 olive brown, spotted or sometimes blotched with light or dark umber 

 brown and ashy shellmarks. Exceptional varieties are pale greenish 

 blue or whitish grey, almost unmarked. The measurements of 100 

 British eggs, made by the writer, average 67.6 by 47.9 millimeters; 

 the eggs showing the four extremes measure 78.6 by 55.1, 56.2 by 44, 

 and 61 by 43 millimeters. 



Young. — Incubation is carried on by both sexes, and the period is 

 29I/2 to 30 days. In spite of their long legs the young can run soon 

 after they are hatched, but remain in the nest longer than the young 

 of most waders, running out and concealing themselves on the ap- 

 proach of danger. Both parents assist in looking after the young, 

 and only a single brood is raised in the season. 



Plumages. — The plumages and molts are fully described in A 

 Practical Handbook of British Birds, edited by H. F. Witherby 

 (1920)'. 



Food. — During the winter months the main food consists of marine 

 mollusca, such as cockles {Cardium edule)^ mussels {Mytilus eduUs), 

 Mya telUna^ Bythenia. etc.; also Crustacea, especially sfnall crabs; 

 occasionally fishes from rock pools, such as hlennies and Annelida 

 (lugworms). In the breeding season land Mollusca, sucli as snails 

 {Helix aspersa.) H. nemoralis^ etc.) and slugs; Amphitra (small 

 frogs), Annelida (earthworms). Insects, including Diptera and their 

 larvae (chiefly Tipulidae), Lepidoptera and their larvae, Orthop- 

 tera {Acheta, Forficula) , Rhyncota {Nof07iecta, etc.), and Coleoptera 

 {Bhisotragus, Anisoplia, Dytiscus, jScarabicus, Aphodius, Harpalics, 

 Zah7'as, Pferostichus., etc.). Also vegetable matter, seeds of Poly- 

 gonum and grasses, berries of croAvberry {Empetrum nigrum) and 



