312 CHAKADKIID.E 



means a rare breeding-bird in the district. From the 



9 June, 



its loud whistle was to be heard and its pretty nuptial flight 

 observed. It executed, now with a trembling motion of the 

 wings, now with motionless wings gliding high in the air, 

 wide circles, continually uttering its varied whistle. On 

 the 9/22 June, the 17/30 June, and g^ y e nests, each con- 

 taining a single fresh egg, were taken (we were compelled by 

 circumstances to satisfy ourselves with incomplete clutches), 



and on the j . a nest was found with three slightly incu- 

 bated eggs. The eggs vary greatly in form, size and colora- 

 tion. The nests were placed in grassy places on the Tundra, 

 and consisted of a shallow depression lined with a few dry 

 grass-bents and a white tangle. At the end of June and in 

 the middle of July we secured three lots each of four young 

 in down. The nests were all found by accident, for the incu- 

 bating male or female did not leave the nest until almost 

 trodden on, when they puffed out their feathers until they 

 appeared almost double their normal size. They practised 

 the usual wiles to get the intruder away, and one female 

 even let herself be caught by a dog. The male was always 

 most careful of the young, whereas the female, when in the 

 vicinity, has the appearance of an uninterested spectator. 

 Of this species also, during the breeding-season, small flocks 

 wandered about. They joined the young birds later on and 

 formed large flocks, which remained until late in the 

 autumn." The description of one fresh egg was " slightly 

 defined pyriform, fine in grain, slightly glossy. Ground- 

 colour pale clay, marked with some large and a few small 

 dirty-brown spots and a few small washed-out pale violet- 

 grey spots." Measurements, 44'5 X 30'5 mm. 



Another egg of a different clutch, also fresh, was 

 " slightly defined pyriform. Ground-colour pale yellowish- 

 white with a greenish tinge, sparingly marked with tolerably 

 large and smaller dirty-brown to blackish-brown and washed- 

 out pale violet-grey spots, which are closer together at the 

 blunt end." Measurements. 49'8 X 33'8 mm. Another 

 egg of another clutch, also fresh, was marked similarly to 

 last but smaller in size, viz., 42'2 X 31'6 mm. The clutch 

 of three slightly incubated eggs were " of the usual oviform 

 shape. Ground-colour pale green, closely marked with 

 small yellowish-brown to blackish- brown spots, which are 

 chiefly drawn on the long axis of the egg, and are collected 



