1 1, \rf/, HY.s/ Qbffc 



clutches tlmt were fresh nr slightly incuhatcd. and left thoee 

 that luul IM-.-II silt upon s,,me days. The avoaeta seemed < 

 prefer to make their nests amongst the ; 'he huff 



white -.(one beingomilar in colour t<> the plumage of tin- hirds. 

 hel| nceal tlinii a.s th.-\ -.it <>n their liest.s. Tin- num 



ggs in each nest uas in\arial>ly f.ur ami tin- nefta 

 ist.'-l iif a hilli'\\ M-ra|..-.l into tin- sand, ami lin-l with a 

 f-\\ liladt-s >if dry ^raxs. The eggK vary in si/-. and ai-- n-.t 

 unlik- tlmst- (if tin- Km opt-an lajiwini;, and UJMIM sluiwin^ th-in 

 to a Scotchman at Kush L-ikc. h- exclaim. -d : \Vhy tl 

 jM-witt's egjrs, I tis.-d t<> collect lots in Scotland." Hut th.-\ 

 larp-r than lapwing's eggs, and are easily distin^nishrd l.y tl- 

 iMil.^ist. Th.- ^i-ound colour is drali. l.utf. or oliv--l.utf. thickly 

 >|M.tt-d and hlotchcd with dark In-own and Mack. Som.- 

 clutches have a greenish olive ^r.)iind. and one clutch 

 found had a pale creamy hutf'ground. Some also hav- scrat'- 

 and lines a.s well AS spots and blotches : tbtjTftWagt l.!'")\i 

 Uf on,- hundred .specimens now he fore m. t w <>f the largest 

 measure '2.L' 1 .md iM")\ l..")7. and two of the -.malle^t 



nieasiir.' l.^-Jxl '2~> and I .sT.x 1 .:{(). The avosets seen i to prefer 

 tin- alkaline lakes to th<>s. . ,f tV. -li wat. -r: they are beautiful 

 l>irds. with their lnu him- l-jrs. and long upturned hills, whicli 

 look like a piece of curved whalel.one. The avocet has wehbecl 

 and is a ^IMM! swimmer, and looks v.-ry sin^ulai- when Hy- 

 ing. with its long neck and hill stretched straight out in fr-.nt 

 audits long legs c,iinterhalancing l.y I wing carried straight 

 ->ut U-hind. \\'e c-ollected a numher of their eggs and sucked 

 sitiue .f the fresh oiies, as the water was alkaline and \\ | 

 thirsty Rfl the day \\ as \ .-ry hot. U-iug one hundred degree^ 

 in the sh 



W. wen walking annind the lake t, \\ards the north end. 

 when we (lushed a scaup duck from its nest, and uine eggs, 

 which proved to he cmisideral.ly inciihated. although we 

 nuinaged to hlow them. The nest was Kimilar t^> most other 

 ducks cMiisistiii,; ..f a h(.|e scrap.-d in the ground and lined 

 with dovn. and was found amongst the coarse grass growing 

 a feu vardsfroiii the uaters edge. The eggs are easily di>- 



