58 WILD LIFE OF SCOTLAND 



net I had in my hand. In one case, I stood by the 

 nest for some moments without result, so assured 

 did the bird seem that safety depended, more on the 

 heather tinting of its feathers, than on flight. In 

 all cases, where the female is sitting, the bright- 

 coloured male is out of sight. 



The nest is interesting, and almost exceptional, 

 inasmuch as the dried grass, generally used as a 

 mere framework to hold together the soft bed of 

 eider-down, composes the greater part. So early 

 in the season the down is usually three-fourths of 

 the whole, burying the framework out of sight. 

 In case of a second or third nest, the proportion of 

 down diminishes. 



The redshank has the lapwing's habit of flying 

 round, and piping at the intruder. The eggs are 

 very sharply pointed, and have a delightfully 

 cream-coloured ground with small brown spots. 



A peculiar querulous half-threatening scream, 

 which once heard is never forgotten, coming down 

 from overhead, announces that the terns, or sea- 

 swallows from the south have reached their 

 breeding-ground. If any doubt remains about the 

 cry, there is no mistaking the jerky and yet buoyant 

 flight, the long crescent-shaped wings, the deeply- 

 forked tail. 



