4 CHAEADRllD^. 



they run and double in such a manner as to render the task of catching them one 

 of no small difficulty. 



" Although the colouring of the eggs varies considerably they can scarcely be 

 mistaken for those of any other British species, except perhaps the Peewit, from 

 which they may be known by theii' larger size and richer colouring. In 18C3 1 

 made tlie following observations upon the colouring of these eggs ; and, on looking 

 over a large series of notes in later joiu-nals, I see no reason to make any 

 alteration in what was then stated : — ' I have long observed, with no little 

 perplexity, the remarkable variety of colour which occurs in the eggs of the 

 Golden Plover, and the regularity with which each colour in its turn predominates 

 according to the degree of advancement of the season. Every year I see large 

 numbers of the eggs, and the general rule appears to be that those which are laid 

 early in the season have a dingy hue, the ground-colour being strongly tinged 

 with dull olive-green, and that a little later this begins gradually to become less 

 frequent, giving place to creamy white, sometimes richly tinged with warm 

 yellowish brown ; the latter is deepest and most common in June and July, when 

 the breeding season is drawing to its close. At this time also the spots and 

 blotches are very abundant, and are more of a reddish brown colour.' Possibly 

 the dingier and earlier eggs are those of older birds. The most beautiful variety 

 is of a warm cream colour, with intensely deep brown blotches or spots, and witli 

 numerous rather large spots of light purplish grey. The usual size is about two 

 inches in length by one inch and a half in breadth, but I have had one specimen 

 measuring two inches and four lines by one inch and nine lines. The eggs are 

 far superior in flavour to those of the Peewit." 



Mr. T. E. Buckley, in his notes " On the Birds of the East of Sutherland," 

 referring to the Golden Plover, says * : — " Not nearly such a common species as 

 might be expected, but still fairly plentiful during the breeding season. Their nests 

 are very difficult to find, as the male bird seems to be always on the watch, and his 

 melancholy whistle soon brings his mate from tlie nest. On the two occasions on 

 which I have taken their nests, the hens flew off and did not run, this being, I 

 think, a commoner way amongst most of the waders of leaving then- nests, than 

 by running, though they often get up an immense distance off. The first nest I 

 got was on the 11th of June, and the hen did not get off until I was close to her ; 

 the eggs being quite fresh. The other nest was on the 27th of April, and 

 contained only three eggs ; the hen rose at such a distance that I merely saw a 

 flash of white as she showed the under part of her wing. I walked straight to 



* 'Proceedings of the Natural History Society of Glasgow,' vol. v. p. 14G. 



