60 



KEARTONS' NATURE PICTURES 



harmlessness of my intentions that he 

 allowed me to stroke him on the back 



NEST OF DOTTEREL. 



with my hand, and this whilst two game- 

 keepers stood only a few yards away 

 watching me. In fact whilst I was 

 exposing a plate upon the eggs he spoilt 

 it by coming and sitting down in the 

 nest. 



It is said that the male bird assists 



the female in the work of incubation. 

 In the present instance he did all the 

 work, and waxed angry whenever his 

 mate came along to see how matters were 

 progressing. Several times when she 

 approached within forty or fifty yards 

 he rose and with a great show of anger 

 chased her right away from the neigh- 

 bourhood of the nest. Once or twice she 

 waited for his coming, and when he flew 

 straight at her she ducked in order to 

 avoid the blow, and losing his balance 

 he rolled over and over. It may be 

 that his irritable temper was occasioned 

 by the fact that the chicks were on the 

 point of hatching out, as they could be 

 plainly heard cheeping, and he did not 

 wish to be bothered at such a critical 

 period. 



Both male and female have a curious 

 habit of standing very erect, and jerking 

 their bodies upwards, in such a way as 

 to make it appear as if they were in 

 danger of falling over backwards. 



This species arrives in Britain during 

 April and May, and leaves again during 

 August and September to spend the 

 winter months in Palestine, Egypt, and 

 Northern Africa. 



