86 BRITISH SEA BIRDS: 
summit of a mole-hill is not rarely chosen. The 
hollow is lined with a few bits of the dry and 
withered surrounding herbage; and in many cases 
even this slight provision is omitted. The four 
eggs (five have been recorded!) very like pears 
in shape, are buffish-brown or pale olive in ground 
colour, handsomely blotched and spotted, especially 
on the larger half, with blackish-brown, paler brown, 
and gray. If the flesh of the Lapwing is not held 
in very high repute its eggs make ample amends ~ 
for the deficiency. Vast numbers are systematically 
gathered for the table ; and as the birds will replace 
their stolen eggs again and again, the harvest may 
be prolonged over several weeks. ‘The first eggs 
are laid in April; in more northern localities not ; 
before May. In the early days of the Plover egg | 
season, these commodities frequently realise as — 
much as twelve shillings per dozen, and are a source 
of profit to many a dweller in country districts. 
Dogs are sometimes trained to search for them. 
When the young are hatched the Lapwing displays 
many curious tricks to lure enemies from them, 
feigning death or broken wings, or swooping with 
loud cries to and fro. 
TURNSTONE. 
It is rather a remarkable fact that this species, 
the Sétrepsilas interpres of naturalists, does not 
breed in the British Islands. Some naturalists 
have suspected that it does so on the Hebrides, 
