THE DOTTEREL 235 



After many attempts, when he faltered and turned away 

 when only a few inches from the nest, the Dotterel at 

 length settled down on his eggs with the camera staring 

 full at him, at once crouching low and arranging his eggs 

 beneath him with the movement characteristic of all birds 

 when brooding. But after a minute or two he became 

 restless. Several times in quick succession he opened 

 and closed his bill, then moved his head and discarded 

 his crouching attitude. Perhaps he realised that he had 

 warmed up his eggs sufficiently for them to withstand a 

 further period of exposure, for he then jumped up and 

 ran from the nesting site ; but he soon returned, and again 

 brooded his eggs. 



That day two of the eggs were chipped, and twenty- 

 four hours later I again visited the Dotterel, expecting 

 to find young in the nest. The father bird was sitting 

 remarkably lightly, considering the critical period of his 

 brooding, and, although the two chicks were still actively 

 hammering against the walls of their prisons, they had 

 progressed little farther in their process of freeing 

 themselves. In the third egg there was as yet no sign 

 of life. 



This time I did not attempt to photograph the Dotterel 

 at first, but moved on across the hill, and soon I saw him 

 hurry back to his nest and settle down upon it. For a 

 time I left him, and on my return found him sitting very 

 closely indeed. Even when disturbed he moved only a 

 short distance, and soon returned. 



The day was without sun, and with mist on the tops, 

 while a cold wind crossed the plateau from the west. I 

 noted that the Dotterel, although approaching his eggs 

 down wind, turned about abruptly as he settled down 

 in order to brood facing the breeze. It was curious 

 that the female bird was nowhere to be seen, although I 

 searched the greater part of the hill. 



