1 32 ANNALS OF BIRD LIFE. 



nestling ; all the time the parent Plovers were 

 piping anxiously, and now and then flew up almost 

 to my feet and turned rapid somersaults along the 

 shore. Then I retired to a distance to wait and 

 watch, and soon by the aid of a glass I saw the 

 old birds settle and the four young ones run out 

 from among the round pebbles and commence 

 clamouring for food. Again I hastened to the 

 spot. Up rose the parent birds piping into the 

 air, and the same tricks were resorted to, but not 

 a nestling could be seen. After ten minutes' 

 search among the stones I found two tiny striped 

 balls of down, with long legs tucked up beneath 

 them, but the closest and most patient search 

 failed to reward me with a sight of the other two 

 nestlings. At the first alarm these little nestling 

 Sand Plovers scattered and hid themselves among 

 the stones, remaining as still as the pebbles them- 

 selves, until all chance of discovery had passed. 

 It is a most interesting fact that the Ringed Plover 

 prefers to lay its eggs on the fine sand where the 

 small spots upon them are more in harmony with 

 the ground than they would be among coarser 

 shingle ; but as soon as the young are hatched the 

 old birds lead them to the rougher beach where 

 pebbles, broken shells, and various shore debris 

 afford a ready harbour of refuge in times of 

 danger. 



Such are a few of the tricks and travesties 

 that birds play off upon their enemies. We 

 cannot refrain when observing the cunning and 



