6 CHARADEIID^. 



season, and the bulk lay their first three or four eggs in April, but every year 

 many nests may be found in March, and in 1883 a confiding pair near Clitheroe 

 had made all preparations, and got one egg safely deposited, on the first of that 

 month; the storm which came a week later, however, upset their calculations, 

 and made all the birds in the neighbourhood flock together again for shelter. 

 The earliest nest I have heard of was reported to the ' Field ' of March 4th, 1882, 

 by Mr. H. J. Parke, was says that ' on February 22, a Plover's nest was found 

 in Brindle, near Preston, containing three eggs, and on the 25th the fourth egg 

 was laid, when the bird commenced to sit.' ... It shows great attachment to its 

 nest, defending it boldly, and being very reluctant to leave it, as the following 

 instance will show: — About half-past five in the evening of May 15th, 1879, 

 Mr. T. Altham found a nest with four eggs in, three of which were completely 

 covered with a dry cake of cow-dung, probably kicked over it by accident by the 

 cattle. The birds had evidently been trying to remove it, but had not been able. 

 The eggs were cold, but he took them home, put them on the oven all night, and 

 at six next morning took them to the nest again. The old birds were about the 

 place, and the hen, on his leaving, went on at once, three of the eggs the 

 morning following being hatched and the young gone : the remaining egg had 

 been accidentally cracked." 



Mr. H. Seebohm says that the eggs of the Lapwing vary in length " from 

 2-0 to 1-75 inch, and in breadth from 1-4 to 1-28 inch."* 



Mr. H. E. Dresser states that eggs of this species in his collection measure 

 from 1-85 by 1-37 inch to I'GS by T32 inch; and that he was informed by the 

 late Mr. Benzon that the latter possessed eggs measuring from 2-0 by 1-81 inch 

 to 1-57 by 1-31 inch. One elongated egg measured 2-3G by 1-30 inch, and a very 

 small one measured IT by •05 inch.f 



* 'History of British Birds,' vol. iii. p. 59. 



t 'History of the Birds of Europe,' vol. vii. pp. 5.")1, 552. 



