BIRDS OF LOCH AND MOUNTAIN 73 



a cairn near by to mark the spot, and, this done, 

 returned to the nest. I found, however, that the 

 bird had slipped off while my back was turned. 

 This, I think, shows that she fancied she was un- 

 detected, and so sat closely, but left the nest directly 

 she had a chance of getting away without being 

 observed. 



Next day, I returned to the spot with my camera, 

 but the hen left the eggs while I was yet a long dis- 

 tance off. However, I succeeded in getting some 

 good photographs of the nest, one of which illus- 

 trates this article. 



It is a fact worthy of note that during a mist 

 all birds specially the Ptarmigan sit very much 

 closer than on a clear day, probably because they 

 are aware that owing to the mist, danger is upon 

 them before they are aware of its presence. 



Before the hen Golden Plover has commenced 

 to sit, and when there are only one or two eggs 

 in the nest, the cock bird stands on guard about 

 50 yards off, the hen usually taking up her position 

 a few yards from the nest. When disturbed, she 

 flies right away, and does not run along the ground 

 as is the case when she is brooding. 



The eggs invariably number four, one being laid 

 each day. They are slightly larger than those of 

 the Lapwing, and are of very great beauty, being of 

 a greenish-brown ground colour and spotted and 

 blotched with dark red. The nest is placed among 

 heather or bent, sometimes among boggy ground, 

 and the eggs are exceedingly difficult to detect, 

 although you may be not a foot from them. Should 

 the nest be discovered, the birds do not call loudly, 

 but watch intently to see if their home will be 

 spoiled. Sometimes if the nest is reached without 



