98 BIRDS OF LOCH AND MOUNTAIN 



heather and grass, where the birds nest in security 

 from most of their enemies. 



They are very light sitters, and leave their 

 nests while you are yet a long distance off. The 

 eggs usually number three ; sometimes only two 

 are found, and occasionally, I believe, as many 



OYSTER CATCHER'S NEST AND EGGS. 



as four, though I have never yet seen the latter 

 number. They are rather larger than those of the 

 common hen, and are beautifully speckled and 

 streaked with dark brown. The ground colour is 

 usually of a buffish tinge, and the eggs are in com- 

 plete harmony with their surroundings, being very 

 difficult to discover. 



The period of incubation is about a month, 

 and towards the beginning of June the young birds 

 are hatched out. They are of a uniform greyish 

 brown, with their under-parts tinged with white, 



