WHEATEARS, DABCHICKS ' 91 



the resemblance suggests the origin. In the case of 

 the spur - winged lapwing the play is commenced 

 by one bird of a pair flying to another pair, and 

 thus making the trio. There is the same kind of 

 rough and imperfect resemblance to this in the way 

 in which these oyster-catcher trios commonly open, 

 but as an account of what I actually saw may give 

 a better idea of how the birds act than can a mere 

 generalisation, I will illustrate the last point, as well 

 as those others which I have mentioned, by this 

 means. 



" When one of the male birds — standing near the 

 female — commences thus to pipe, the other one, if 

 on the same rock, runs excitedly up to him, and 

 pushing him out of the way so as to occupy almost 

 his exact place, pipes himself, as though he would 

 do so instead of him. The other, however, is not to 

 be silenced, but standing close by him the two pipe 

 together, throwing their heads from time to time 

 in each other's direction, and then back again, in a 

 frenzy or ecstasy, as though they were Highland 

 bagpipers of rival clans piping against each other, 

 and swinging their instruments as they grew inspired 

 by their strains. Continuing thus to act, the two 

 male birds approach and press upon the female. She 

 flies to a corner of the rock, the two, still piping 

 vigorously, follow and again press upon her. She 

 flies down upon a lower ledge of it, the two pipe 

 down at her from above. She flies from the rock, 

 they half raise their heads, and cease to pipe, then 

 with single querulous notes, and in their ordinary 

 attitude, walk disconsolately about. 



" After some ten minutes the female flies back again. 



