The Oologists' Record, March 1, 1923. 



the last week of May would appear to be the right date for clutches of 

 fresh eggs. 



On subsequent visits to the high hills we found six further nests 

 of the Dotterel, and here it may be well to observe that in one 

 instance only was the nest on the slope below the actual summit — 

 perhaps 150 feet ; all the others were on the flats at the extreme 

 top. In no case was the behaviour of the sitting bird at all similar 

 to that of the first one, and it may be of interest to describe shortly 

 how each Dotterel behaved at the nest. Of course, the weather 

 may have affected individual birds to a certain extent, but of this 

 I cannot speak with confidence. 



The second Dotterel (I use the singular advisedly, for in no 

 single instance did we see the pair of birds) to come under our 

 observation was first seen running very rapidly on a smooth stretch 

 of short, wiry grass and moss well towards the northern end of the 

 plateau. The day — June 3rd — was fine, bright and clear, but 

 bitterly cold, with a strongish wind from the east. We had reached 

 the top by a steep but agreeable climb soon after 9.30 a.m., and 

 although the Dotterel had undoubtedly caught sight of us first, I 

 do not think she had been running about very long before I picked 

 her up. She appeared to be feeding in a desultory fashion — 

 always aivay from us, but always on the alert. At times she would 

 disappear over a little ridge, only to reappear again a little further 

 away ; she was never still, and was obviously concerned. At 

 first we thought of searching methodically for the nest itself, but 

 soon gave up the idea and sat down to watch. Immediately the 

 Dotterel stopped, shook herself and started running towards us ! 

 When she had come within twenty yards of us she stopped abruptly 

 and stood qi.iite still for nearly 12 minutes. I then decided to leave 

 the task to my companion — and rising, I walked leisurely and con- 

 spicuously away and right out of sight over the hill. In less than 

 a quarter of an hour I heard a whistle, and running back found 

 my companion at the nest — the Dotterel had floian from the egg 

 and disappeared ! 



The nest was exactly 35 yards from where we had been sitting, 

 and about 15 yards from where I had first seen the bird, so that 

 she must have run off it on seeing us come over the hill. As before, 

 it was only a shallow scrape in the hard bare ground, with no lining 

 whatever. There was, perhaps, a little more vegetation, but 

 the three eggs were fairly conspicuous. They were rubbed a little, 



