THE DUNLIN. 131 



That such an action as the removal of the egg 



OG 



after its deposition from one place to another, with 

 a view to avoid danger, is not impossible, may be 

 gathered from the fact related by Mr. Selby of a 

 pair of water-hens removing their eggs in time 

 of danger. 



Mr. Hewitson makes a similar statement with 

 regard to the dunlin. This bird can scarcely be 

 considered to make a nest : for the most part it is 

 merely a round cavity in the grass or moss amongst 

 which it is to lay its eggs; sometimes pieces 

 of heath and a little dry grass are added/ but this 

 is not often. " I once found the nest of one of this 

 species," says the above-mentioned author, " upon 

 one of the unfrequented moors of Shetland ; and 

 not then well knowing the eggs, I left them till 

 I could return with my gun to secure one of the 

 birds. I did return a few hours afterwards, but 

 the eggs were gone ; and though I have no evidence 

 to prove it, I have myself no doubt that the birds 

 had removed them to a place of safety." It was at 

 least much more probable than that human means 

 had done so in a district scarcely ever trodden. 

 As these eggs taper almost as much as a peg-top, 

 the idea of the difficulty of this action may be 



