2 CHAEADRIID^. 



north shore of the Caspian Sea in the beginning of April, and immediately chooses 

 its nesting-place. At this time it keeps in colonies of about ten pairs, which 

 usually have their nests round the shores of some salt lake. The male birds sport 

 in the air, now soaring upwards, now swooping down with a curious, though not 

 unpleasing cry, consisting of three notes. The females then only fly off when 

 they are pvnsued and are usually much more wary than the males. The nest 

 consists of a shallow depression, with scarcely any lining, and in this the clutch 

 of three eggs is laid. Their ground-colour is ochraceous, thickly sprinkled Avith 

 irregular blackish-brown spots. Their form is oval and they measure 1-45 inch 

 in length by 102 inch in breadth. The food of the Caspian Plover consists 

 of coleoptera and cicadce. It departs for its winter resorts in the middle of 

 August." 



