220 Life and Immortality. 
purpose in so doing, the object to be gained being the de- 
ceiving of man and other enemies as to the real location 
of the nest. 
All these precautions are undertaken for the sake of the 
eggs, although in color and markings these so closely resem- 
ble the dry sand and intermingled bits of foreign substances, 
that such actions -seem all unnecessary. When birds have 
been flushed from the nest, and its exact position has been 
noted with the greatest care, I have failed, after several minutes 
FEMALE PIPING PLOVER. 
Nest in Midst of Broken Shells. 
of the closest searching, to detect the eggs, so true has been 
the color-harmony between them and the surrounding sand, 
This resemblance in coloration must be seen to be fully ap- 
preciated. In ground the eggs are the palest possible creamy: 
brown, but marked all over, quite sparingly, with smal 
blackish-brown dots and specks, the largest hard!y exceeding 
a pin’s head. Four is the usual number, and these, from 
their peculiar pear-shaped form, are placed with their points 
together in the centre of the nest. They are objects of more 
