McGlLF — EiulromaiH nicstraliK {Australian Dottrel). 51 



and short pieces of grass and half-green herbage to form the 

 ring round the nest; there were three eggs in the depression. 



When the sitting Dottrel is suddenly flushed from the 

 nest, the eggs are found bare in the depression, with the ring of 

 pebbles, debris or earth, clear of the eggs. If one stands 

 back a'short distance, the bird will return bj short runs, and 

 gradually draw closer to the nest. VYhen the nest is 

 reached, she stands with her back to one, and with head 

 turned over shoulder, to watch. To all appearances she is 



standing motionless, but, nevertheless, after a while, succeeds 

 in completely covering the eggs with the contents of the "ring" 

 round the depression, and sneaks quietly away, and stands 

 still for a very long time, until she is satisfied the danger is 

 past, when she again sneaks up to the nest, and this time one 

 can plainly see her scratch out the covering matter from the 

 nest, and form the ring again. 



If one slowly approaches a dottrel on the nest, so that the 

 bird sees the danger at some 'distance away, she will usually 

 attempt to cover the eggs before leaving. When the eggs are 

 covered it is a very difficult thing to find them, unless one cares 

 to spend much time and patience in waiting for the bird to 

 return. The eggs, when freshly laid, are of a greenish color, 

 but this changes to yellowish-brown after a few days. They 

 vary a good deal in shape, some being tapered abruptly towards 

 the small end, others are more oval in form*. The clutch is 

 usually very uniform ; and the average size of many eggs I have 

 measured is barely 1^ inches by a little over 1 inch. The eggs 

 are alwiiys placed point in towards centre of the depression or 

 nest. 



The young leave the nest shortly after they are hatched, 

 and can even then run very smartly. If a brood a few days 

 old is disturbed, the parent will give a call, and the young will 

 squat down on the ground with head outstretched, and in the 

 herbage if possible. They are very hard to locate when they 

 are in this position, as their mottled appearance makes them 

 look like liltle clods of earth. The mother, in the meantime, 

 pretends injury, and flutters about trying to draw one's atten- 

 tion to herself. After a little while she gives a different call, 

 evidently assured the danger was past. If one watches care- 

 fully, each little chick will stand perfectly still for a second, 

 jerk the head, and run a few paces, just as the parent birds do. 

 Again at the danger call from the mother bird, the young will 

 disappear altogether for some time, but at a ''clear" call, the 



