220 



Life and Immortality. 



purpose in so doing, the object to be gained being the de- 

 ceiving of man and other enemies as to the real location 

 of the nest. 



All these precautions are undertaken for the sake of the 

 eggs, although in color and markings these so closely resem- 

 ble the dry sand and intermingled bits of foreign substances, 

 that such actions -seem all unnecessary. When birds have 

 been flushed from the nest, and its exact position has been 

 noted with the greatest care, I have failed, after several minutes 



FEMALE PIPING PLOVER. 



Nest in Midst of Broken Shells. 



of the closest searching, to detect the eggs, so true has been 

 the color-harmony between them and the surrounding sand. 

 This resemblance in coloration must be seen to be fully ap- 

 preciated. In ground the eggs are the palest possible creamy- 

 brown, but marked all over, quite sparingly, with smaV 

 blackish-brown dots and specks, the largest hardly exceeding 

 a pin's head. Four is the usual number, and these, from 

 their peculiar pear-shaped form, are placed with their points 

 together in the centre of the nest. They are objects of more 



