240 



CHAEADKIID^ 



(Plate XVI., figs. 1 and 2). But when the clutch is incom- 

 plete the arrangement of the eggs is often quite irregular, 

 and this may be seen even when the full clutch is freshly 

 laid. No doubt the bird arranges the eggs by the sense of 

 touch, e.g., with her feet, or beak, as she sits hatching. 

 The ground-colour of the eggs, ranges from warm stone 

 to light greenish-brown, and greenish-blue shades occur in 

 exceptional cases, while the dark brown markings vary from 



FIG. 32. LAPWINGS AND NEST. PARTRIDGE INTRUDING. 



small spots to large and confluent blotchings, and even 

 broad zonular bands. In Plate XVI., fig. 1, two eggs of 

 the clutch are seen to be heavily blotched. 



Incubation begins about the end of March, but the birds 

 may be seen flying about the breeding-grounds a month 



before they had time to carry away their booty, for fifty yards off I dis- 

 covered two Jackdaws at work, each on an egg. On seeing me the birds 

 flew away leaving the eggs on the ground. I then found that the latter 

 were punched in the same way as the two I saw in the nest, with 

 which they corresponded in their markings. I presume all these eggs 

 belonged to the same clutch. This is only one of many instances which 

 I have noted of Plover's eggs being plundered by other birds. 



