FRAGMENTS FROM THE SEASHORE. 253 



and then suddenly jumped up, I should see where 

 the sitting bird commenced to run from, and 

 have* my task considerably simplified. This was 

 done, and in less than two minutes I solved the 

 cunning plover's secret. 



The little pebble-lined declivity was within 

 twenty yards of that occupied by the oyster- 

 catchers, and a marvellous thing about the matter 

 was not how the eggs had escaped my eyes, but 

 my feet, for in carrying stones during my building 

 operations I had walked at least a score of times 

 over and hard past the nest. 



A difficulty here presented itself. The dipping 

 of one of the clutch of eggs into the water of a 

 rock pool showed that incubation was far ad- 

 vanced, and if I wished to figure the brooding 

 bird, immediate action was necessary. 



I had not nearly finished with the oyster- 

 catchers, and although building materials were 

 scarce, I could not think of housebreaking there 

 in the interests of a new studio. As all useful 

 reflection soon exhausted itself on the matter, and 

 looking on makes nothing grow, I promptly com- 

 menced to roll such crags as I could stir into the 

 position of foundation-stones. These boulders 

 gave me an encouraging start, and I required it, 

 for I was tired, and the rest of the stones were 

 very heavy and far to carry. Although it was 

 late in the afternoon when I started my task, 



