CONSIDERATION OF BRITISH BIRDS 113 



scanty ; and in the case of the Sparrow, may 

 be entirely absent. The dome of the Sparrow's 

 nest is never well-made nor very complete. 



It is necessary now to return to DIVISION II : 

 " Birds having Conspicuous Colouring in Both 

 Sexes." 



As would be expected, the majority of these 

 make closed nests. There are, however, some 

 which make open ones but whose females are 

 not cryptically coloured (see Table V) ; in some 

 of these the conspicuous colouring is concealed 

 whilst the hen is sitting (Table V, * birds) ; 

 others are powerful birds, or birds which nest 

 in colonies and whose females are not liable 

 to be attacked whilst sitting (Table V, birds 

 marked f). 



Four birds, the Water-hen and the Coot, 

 the Red- and Black- throated Divers, are able 

 to leave their nests unobserved, and do so at 

 the least alarm, so that it is very difficult to 

 view these birds sitting. 



In two birds, the Lapwing and the Oyster- 

 catcher, the male keeps guard over the sitting 

 female and warns her on the approach of 

 danger ; she is thus able to leave the nest 

 when the enemy is far distant. Without opera 

 glasses, it is difficult to view these birds 

 whilst sitting. 



H 



