go Baby Birds at Home 



in the sea, and large fresh-water lochs, and 

 marshes on moors are chosen by this species 

 for breeding places. 



The nest is made of seaweed, heather, 

 wool, and grass. Sometimes the structure 

 is very bulky and untidy, and at others a 

 mere hollow in the ground, lined with a few 

 blades of dead grass. 



This species generally lays three eggs, 

 although upon occasion two only may be 

 found in a nest. They vary from yellowish 

 brown to light olive in ground colour, and are 

 marked with dark brown and slaty grey 

 blotches. 



The nestlings are covered with ashy grey 

 down, marked especially on the head with 

 blackish brown. They leave the nest soon 

 after being hatched, if the situation provides 

 room for them to do so, and run about with 

 great freedom and strength. Their parents 

 are very wary and watchful, and if they 

 observe a boat approaching they at once 

 sound a hoarse alarm-note, and the young 

 birds either hide in the vegetation or squeeze 

 their bodies into some fissure in the rock 

 and remain absolutely still. 



