366 MISCELLANEA. 



months. It must be evident from these facts that the shorter 

 the period required for the purposes of incubation and rearing 

 their young, the greater would be the advantage to the Plover 

 family. 



Since the above observations were made, I have not had an 

 opportunity of confirming their correctness, or otherwise rectify- 

 ing any error in the observation. I have, therefore, given this 

 rather long account of what may seem a very trifling matter in 

 bird-life, but which, if substantiated, would be of considerable 

 interest, in the hope that someone with ample opportunity may 

 further investigate this question, and establish the exact time in 

 which the Peewit and other Plovers lay their clutch of eggs. — 

 Richard Howse, Museum, Newcastle- on- Tyne, 



