258 THE NESTS AND EGGS OF BRITISH BIRDS. 



amongst the vegetation, with no lining of any kind 

 beyond that which is already in the selected spot. The 

 bird as a rule sits very lightly, leaving the eggs at the 

 first alarm, running along the ridges and occasionally 

 taking a short flight, then returning and standing to 

 watch the intruder ; again passing to and fro, and not 

 daring to visit the nest until all but the most untiring 

 patience is exhausted. When the eggs are discovered 

 various alluring antics are frequently practised, and at 

 times, especially if the eggs are much incubated, the 

 parent will remain upon them more closely, then start 

 suddenly up, and reel and tumble as if wounded. 



RANGE OF EGG COLOURATION AND MEASUREMENT : 

 The eggs of the Dotterel are always three in number, 

 and vary a good deal in form, some being rotund, others 

 very distinctly pear-shaped, others oval. They vary in 

 ground colour from yellowish-olive to pale buff, richly 

 blotched and spotted with dark brown, and with a few 

 underlying markings of gray. The markings are bold 

 and large, and most numerous on the larger end of the 

 egg, although they are pretty generally dispersed over 

 the entire surface. Average measurement, r6 inch in 

 length, by IT. inch in breadth. Incubation, performed 

 chiefly by the male, lasts from eighteen to twenty-one 

 days. 



DIAGNOSTIC CHARACTERS : The eggs of the Dotterel 

 are very characteristic, and can only be confused with 

 those of the Arctic Tern, but as a rule the underlying 

 markings on those of the latter species are bolder and 

 more numerous. The breeding-grounds of the two 

 species are also widely dissimilar. 



