BRITISH BIRDS' NESTS. 295 



Materials. None, the eggs being deposited in 

 a slight hollow. 



Eggs. Three or four, generally the former 

 number ; cream, stone, or dark buff in ground- 

 colour, streaked, spotted, and blotched with brown- 

 ish-black and very dark grey. More pyriform 

 than those of the Lesser Tern, and distinguished 

 from those of the Ringed Plover by scrawl-like 

 character of markings. Size about 1.25 by .9 in. 

 (See Plate VII.) 



Time. May. 



Remarks. Migratory, arriving in April or early 

 in May, and departing in August or the beginning 

 of September. Notes : call, tirr, tirr, pitt, pitt, 

 pwee, pwee ; alarm, a plaintive and also a sharp 

 whistle. Local or other name : none. In 

 Yarr ell's time the eggs were in great demand as 

 table delicacies, and dogs were trained to find 

 them. It is very satisfactory to be able to state 

 that the bird and its eggs are now enjoying the 

 personal protection of a paid watcher. Does not 

 sit closely, and runs on quitting the eggs. 



KENTISH PLOVER ON EGGS. 



