STONE-CUELEW. 5 



of the hill, where we saw a Stone-Curlew rise from the ground about seventy yards 

 ahead of us. We marked the spot ; but before we had quite reached it, we found 

 the two eggs on a place where the heath was short. As before, it was a mere 

 hollow scratched in the bare black peat ; not even a bit of grass had drifted in to 

 serve as an apology for a lining. The two eggs were very diiferent, both in size, 

 shape, and markings, and no one would have suspected them to form a clutch ; 

 they were on the point of hatching, both eggs were chipped, and we could hear 

 the young chirping inside. But for all that, the female flew right away, without 

 any attempt to lure us from the spot, and though we stayed near the nest some 

 time, we saw no more of her 



" The Stone-Curlew is a very conspicuous bird on the wing, the light and 

 dark markings on the secondaries being specially conspicuous during flight. It 

 is also easily seen on the heath, even at a great distance, being so much paler and 

 yellower than the prevailing colours of the grass, heath, and peat ; as the season 

 advances these naturally become burnt up or parched, and then the Stone-Curlew 

 is much less conspicuous. 



" A little further on a third bird rose from the ground, and was shortly 

 joined by her mate ; both flew right away. We had no difficulty in finding the 

 eggs. The bird runs about fifteen to twenty yards and then takes wing. These 

 two eggs were similar in size and shape, but very different in style of coloration. 

 As before, there was nothing but a slight hollow scratched in the black peat. 

 Although the eggs are very conspicuous, and there is obviously no attempt at 

 concealment, their very conspicuousness assists in their concealment. In the 

 localities chosen for depositing its eggs, the Stone-Curlew selects a place where 

 the heath is short. Where we found them brown stones and white flints were 

 lying in all directions, and were far more conspicuous than the eggs ; it vs-as only 

 when we began to look out for double stones tliat we found how easy it was to 

 discover the eggs. The sitting bird seems to rely upon its powers of observation 

 to escape enemies, and chooses a situation where it can see all round, regardless of 

 whether it can be seen or not. We did not hear the birds utter any note, except 

 a distant plaintive cry, like the wail of the Golden Plover. The actions of the 

 birds at the nest are, however, most un-plover-like, and in its habits this species 

 certainly resembles the Bustards." 



Mr. Seebohm continues * : — " The eggs of the Stone-Curlew (two in number) 

 vary from pale bnffish or creamy white to rich clay-buff" in ground-colour, spotted, 

 blotched, and streaked with light and dark brown, and with underlying markings 



♦ Tom. cit. pp. 599, 600. 



