222 HILL BIRDS OF SCOTLAND 



served under similar circumstances. On this occasion 

 only one parent bird was present, and, in fact, it has been 

 my experience that both cock and hen are rarely found 

 in the vicinity of the nest or young. 



Curiously enough, it is the male bird which is the 

 smaller and more subdued of the two in colouring, and it 

 is he also, who, it is stated by most observers, hatches out 

 the eggs, and probably also tends the family while his 

 mate is away — perhaps enjoying herself elsewhere. The 

 hen is also said to take the initiative in courtship, though 

 I cannot confirm this from my own personal observations. 



The nesting season commences each year at almost 

 precisely the same day, and the young are hatched out 

 about June 22nd. Allowing three weeks as the period of 

 incubation — and I think this is the time as nearly as it 

 has been determined — the first egg must be deposited 

 at the extreme end of May, about a week later than the 

 majority of Ptarmigan commence to lay. 



Not the least interesting point in the habits of the 

 Dotterel is the fact that its eggs are always three in 

 number. Now, with all the " waders," a clutch of four is 

 usually deposited. Golden Plover, Green Plover, Curlew, 

 and many others invariably produce four eggs, and I 

 believe the Dotterel is the only representative of the widely- 

 distributed and extensive group to restrict her clutch 

 always to three hostages to fortune. 



The eggs are more rounded in shape than is the case 

 with most of the " waders." They are of a light brown 

 ground colour, and are strongly marked, especially at 

 their larger ends, with spots and blotches of rich red 

 brown. In size they are from 1"75 inches to 1*5 inches 

 in length, and from 1'17 inches to 1*1 inches in breadth. 



The nest, if such it can be called, is a slight depression 

 scraped out in the hard, peaty ground on some hill plateau, 

 and is sometimes lined with a few pieces of dried grass 



