Expedition to the Zambesi River. 453 



Chicowa; while the discovery of another nest subsequently 

 enabled us to observe a remarkable example of breeding 

 economy on the part of this Plover. The following extracts 

 from my note-book will explain this : — 



"Sept. 27. Chicowa flats. Landed on a large island of 

 sand in mid-stream to take up quarters and wait for arrival 

 of paddlers to expedite further journey up river. Heat 

 intense; thermometer in our tent registered to-day 118°. 

 Belts of beautiful shady trees on the opposite bank of the 

 river to gaze at. 



" Oct. 9. At breakfast to-day Ramm mentioned that he 

 had found a Kentish Plover's nest not 300 yards from our 



tent Went and inspected the nest. There were three 



eggs, covered over with sand, and so carefully that, had 

 it not been for the maze of footprints round it, discovery 

 would have been impossible. 



" Oct. 11. Ramm told me to-day that he could never 

 observe the Plovers near the nest ; the eggs seemed always 

 to be covered up. In the afternoon I went to the nest : eggs 

 covered up, the pair of birds feeding at the end of the island. 

 For the first time it suddenly occurred to me : Might it not 

 be possible that incubation is brought about throughout the 

 day by the sun acting on the sand which covered up the 

 eggs ? Shall watch this nest more closely in future. 



"Oct. 12. 5.30 a.m. : female bird ran from the nest; eggs 

 warm. About 10 o'clock, eggs covered up ; about 3, eggs 

 ditto. 



"Oct. 13. Heat intense. 8 o'clock, eggs covered up. I 

 lay down on the sand as flat as I could, with my glasses, 

 in order to watch the two Plovers. After some time of 

 searching, I discovered one of them feeding at the water's 

 edge some way off on my left. Soon it ran on to the sand 

 and suddenly squatted down, and remained still for a long 

 time, its body looking like an excrescence on the flat muddy 

 sand, an object easy to lose sight of, but I marked it by a 

 small piece of drift-wood not far off. I watched this bird 

 for over half an hour, but it never moved; so, tired of waiting 

 any longer, my legs ])eing terribly ' rawed ' by the sun, I 



SER. VII. VOL. VI. '2 I 



