TEMMINCK'S STINT. 3 



" In most cases the nests lay quite exposed, either at the side of a single stone 

 or a few smaller stones or amongst grass, or sometimes under a low willow-bush. 

 Sometimes there was nothing in the desolate moor to indicate the position of the 

 nest. At the bottom of the nest there was always a layer of dried leaves or some 

 straw. The number of the eggs was without exception four, although we examined 

 this year nearly 40 clutches, as above stated. They show comparatively small 

 and unimportant variations. 



" If the sitting bird was flushed from the nest its behaviour varied. Generally 

 it flew quietly off and disappeared for a short time. In a few minutes it showed 

 itself again near the nest and remained quiet for some time, when it allowed of 

 an easy examination till it settled on the nest again. Sometimes, however, it 

 feigned to be wounded, ran along the ground with plaintive cries and drooping 

 wings and often perched on the highest twigs of bushes. This behaviour it nearly 

 always showed if the eggs were much incubated or if it was flushed suddenly from 

 the nest, whereas it did not resort to this artifice whenever it saw one approaching 

 from some distance. 



" If the eggs were much incubated and we did not leave the place, it 

 generally displayed great anxiety, flying in circles over our heads for a long time, 

 with a peculiar trilling note, tirrr, tirrr, tirrr. 



" As is also the case with Tr. alpina, Tr. canutus {cf. Ibis, 1877, p. 407) and 

 perhaps vdth most birds of this genus, the male bird exercises during the pairing 

 and breeding-season very peculiar manoeuvres. It will rise in the air singing and 

 twittering, now flying in circles with quivering wings at a very little height, now 

 remaining motionless in the air with rapid beats of the wing (just like Falco 

 tinnunculus), and at last settling on a hedge, or on a large stone, or on the top of 

 a bush, singing the whole time. Here it often continues its song, which some- 

 what resembles that of a warbler, raises its wings straight up, continues the whole 

 manoeuvres in the field, and is evidently in the highest ecstacy. The female is 

 little seen during this time, but keeps herself more concealed. As soon as the 

 process of laying is at an end, these manoeuvres usually cease. A few birds 

 continue them partially after the young are hatched, just as is the case with 

 Scolopax rusticola &c. This I observed at Vadso on the 20th and 21st July, 

 1878, in the case of some birds here and there still in full song, although the 

 young in down were close at hand. The female, like Tr. minuta, possesses also 

 the gift of song, and I have occasionally shot females uttering soft twittering 

 notes whilst sitting on the ground. 



" As stated above, most of the clutches Were, from the 27th to the 30th June 

 (Stabursnaes, Borselv), fresh or nearly fresh, but a little more incubated on July 3rd 



2h2 



