q6 , The Oologisfs' Record, December i, 1921. 



nothing ; there are numerous wardens, and permission is not easily 

 obtained. 



Of all the birds we saw, perhaps the waders were the most 

 abundant, both in numbers and species. The country appears to 

 be one of the great breeding-grounds of the Dunlin, Pelidna alpina 

 (L.) ; these birds literally swarm on the deltas, and were " trilling " 

 everywhere. The Ruff, Pavoncella pugnax (L.), Black-tailed Godwit. 

 Limosa aegocephala, Bechst., Redshank, Totanus calidris (L.) and 

 Lapwing, VaneUus cristatus, W. and M., were also breeding in large 

 numbers. 



The habits of the Dunlin were quite as exasperating as at home. 

 Whilst tramping along the delta a small snipelike bird would be 

 seen standing a few yards away, alert and motionless ; you walk 

 towards it — it runs a few yards, then turns round and again surveys 

 you. You may repeat the manoeuvre as often as you wish ; the 

 exasperating bird will simply make rings round you. Time and 

 again, when thus annoyed, did we hurl our walking sticks at them, 

 but they only opened their wings and flew round us, a few feet 

 from the ground. Most of the nests we found were stumbled upon 

 accidentally, although we occasionally met with a close-sitter — an 

 adept in the art of broken wings. Considering the numbers which 

 were breeding, it is strange we came across so few nests. 



The habits of the Black-tailed Godwit were also exasperating^ 

 but in a different manner. They play the same trick as the Lap- 

 wings. Directly you make your appearance on the deltas they rise 

 with the Lapwings and circle overhead, uttering repeatedly a loud 

 and somewhat wild cry, and, of course, disturbing the whole neigh- 

 bourhood of sitting birds. They are fairly easy to stalk, and with a 

 pair of good binoculars are visible at a great distance ; but are 

 extremely shy and suspicious, and require a considerable amount of 

 patience at times ere a nest is betrayed. 



During our stay in Denmark we experienced very cold and wet 

 weather, which rendered stalking anything but pleasant ; conse- 

 quently we relied rather upon chance, and judged by the beha\iour 

 of the parents when we were near the nests. The latter are mere 

 depressions in the ground, lined with a few bits of dry grass. The 

 eggs of the Black-tailed Godwit vary a good deal, some being of 

 a uniform pale olive, whilst others are pale buff, well marked with 

 darker shades of brown. 



