$230 THE ZOOLOGIST—SEPTEMBER, 1872. 
seeing three young lapwings, that could not have been hatched 
many days, on seeing me, boldly take to the water and swim out 
for about twelve yards into the reservoir, where they remained 
screaming till I had gone on a little way, when an adult lapwing 
(most likely the mother) settled near them on the water, and after 
swimming round them for several times, she swam to shore with 
her little ones. It was a remarkably pretty sight to see the tiny 
downy lapwings on the water, swimming much after the fashion of 
young moorhens. The old lapwing seemed to me to be remarkably 
' buoyant in the water. On several occasions this year I observed 
the common sandpiper swimming in the Hodder from one stone to 
another, evidently searching for food, and I was also told that a 
young one of this species, on being frightened by my informant, 
immediately took to the water, but did not dare to cross the river, 
and soon returned to the shore, when it was caught. This sand- 
piper breeds in considerable numbers all along the Hodder and 
Ribble, but especially on the banks of the former river. If the 
first laying of eggs, which consists of four, is taken, a second batch 
of three (sometimes only of two) eggs is laid, generally on the very 
same spot where the first eggs were laid. The second lot of eggs 
are generally less mottled than the first, being usually either of a 
cream-colour with dark blots only at the thicker end, or quite 
spotless. These birds do not always lay their eggs near water, for 
in several instances I have found them full a hundred yards from 
the river, and in very dry situations. 
A. von HUGEL. 
Stonyhurst, near Blackburn, 
July 28, 1872. 
Wild Birds’ Protection Act. 
THE following is the text of the Act which received the royal 
assent on the 10th inst. :— 
CuaPTer 78.—An Act for the Protection of certain Wild Birds 
during the Breeding Season. [10th August 1872.] 
Whereas it is expedient to provide for the protection of certain 
wild birds of the United Kingdom during the breeding season: 
Be it enacted by the Queen’s most Excellent Majesty, by and 
with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, 
