VOL. XV.] A RINGED PLOVER'S * NESTS.' 29 



hesitation and frequent upward jerks of the head. Eventually 

 she summoned up sufficient courage to come forward to the 

 nest, and, after looking at the scattered eggs, she sat down 

 on the same one as the male had been covering, with- 

 out making any attempt to gather the others together 

 (Fig. 2). 



The plumage of the female was not nearly so well marked as 

 that of the male, and she appeared almost dingy in comparison. 

 Instead of the pure white forehead of her mate, the front 



Fig. 3. Ringed Plover : The male drawing the eggs into the 

 new hollow. 



{Photographed by J. N. Douglas Smith.) 



of her head was speckled wdth brown, giving it rather a dirty 

 appearance. Hoping to overcome her nervousness, I allowed 

 her to sit for several minutes undisturbed, and then released 

 the shutter. At the slight click, however, she immediately 

 rose and flew straight from the eggs. 



Although during the next twenty minutes the Plovers 

 were heard calling not far off, neither of them returned to the 

 nest, and at the end of that time I decided to leave and give 

 them a chance to regain confidence. Half an hour later my 

 brother, J. N. Douglas Smith, took his turn at watching the 



