OP THE BEITISH ISLANDS. 131 



often visits the higher banks of shingle, and remains almost stationary until 

 the tide begins to ebb. Young and old flock together during autumn and winter. 



Nidification Early in April the flocks of Einged Plovers begin to 



disband and disperse over the breeding grounds, although the eggs are not laid 

 until May or early June. Many pairs may often be found breeding in one 

 locality. The majority of the birds stick to the sandy stretches of coast during 

 the summer, but others retire to the banks of inland waters, and sometimes the 

 nest is made at a considerable distance away from water. The nest is nothing but a 

 little hollow in the sand, and very often even that slight provision is dispensed 

 with, and the eggs rest upon the flat surface. They are always laid well above 

 high water mark, and, as a rule, on the fine sand rather than on the coarser 

 shingle. Several nests may be found quite close to each other. The eggs 

 are four in number, pale buff in ground-colour, spotted with blackish-brown and 

 ink-grey. The markings are generally very small and evenly distributed, although 

 sometimes most numerous and largest on the big end of the egg. They measure 

 on an average 1'4 inch in length by 1"0 inch in breadth, and are pyriform in shape 

 and smooth in texture. One brood only is reared in the year, but if the first clutch 

 be removed others will be laid. I have taken the eggs of this species towards 

 the end of June : other naturalists have found them as late as the beginning 

 of August. The bird sits little during the day, especially if the sun be shining 

 brightly ; and when the breeding grounds are invaded by man the parent Plovers 

 manifest little concern, as if fully conscious that the highly protective colours of 

 the eggs will shield them from harm. Incubation lasts from twenty-one to 

 twenty-three or even twenty-four days. When the young are hatched, however, 

 the old birds become much more anxious, and strive by various artifices to lure 

 an intruder away from their helpless offspring. The broods frequent the shingle 

 more than the sand, and are adept at hiding themselves when threatened by 

 danger. We may here call attention to a statement made in some recent works 

 on ornithology claiming the authority of personal observation, to the effect that 

 Plovers of various species frequently indulge in alluring actions to draw a human 

 intruder from the vicinity of their eggs. So far as our experience extends they 

 rarely, if ever, do this, but leave their eggs to that protection which their harmony 

 of colour with surrounding objects affords, and reserve their feigned lameness 

 and other wiles to divert attention from their helpless young. Certain Sandpipers, 

 however, unquestionably seek to lure an intruder from their eggs by these 

 artifices. 



Diagnostic characters — Mgialitis, with the underparts white, except 

 the lores, and a dark breast band (black in adult male, brown in female and 

 young), with the central half of the outer webs of the innermost primaries white, 

 and the base of both mandibles orange yellow. Length of wing, 5'7 to 5-0 

 inches. Total length, 8 inches. 



