160 THE GAME BIEDS AND WILD FOWL 



hollow in the moss or lichen-covered ground, into which is placed by way of 

 Hning a few twigs, scraps of reindeer moss, and other vegetable refuse. The 

 hollow of the nest is described as perfectly round and rather deep. The eggs 

 are four in number, and intermediate in colour between those of the Golden 

 Plover and the Lapwing, being neither quite as olive as the latter nor as buff as 

 the former in ground-colour, but the markings are similar in every respect. 

 They measure on an average 2'0 inches in length by 1 "4 in. in breadth. For nesting 

 duties the part of the tundra most favoured by the Grey Plover is the flat bog, 

 intersected with tussocky ridges. The birds were observed to indulge in rather 

 curious flights as they rose from their nests, tossing their wings in the air somewhat 

 like the action of a Tumbler Pigeon. After being driven from their home the female 

 was generally the first to return, but she invariably came less conspicuously than 

 the male. She generally made her appearance on a distant ridge of the tundra, 

 then, after looking round her for a short time, she would run quickly to the next 

 ridge, and again look round, calling at intervals to her mate with a single note. 

 To this, however, the male was observed seldom to reply, but when he did so it 

 was with a double note. After the female had run about thus for some time the 

 male began to move, but he generally joined his mate by boldly flying up to her. 

 On the other hand the female rarely took to her wings. She was very cautious, 

 and passed and repassed her nest several times, until she finally settled upon it. 

 All the time that the nest was being watched the female was restless and ran 

 about a good deal, but the male generally remained stationary on a hillock or 

 a ridge, apparently watching the movements of his mate. When the young are 

 hatched the old birds perform various alluring antics to try and draw an 

 intruder away. Seebohm gives a very remarkable instance of a female Grey Plover 

 dropping as if dead after being fired at, but when he was about to pick her up she 

 flew away, apparently uninjured. One brood only is reared in the season. Since 

 1875 the eggs of the Grey Plover have been taken on the island of Kolguev, in 

 1895, by the Messrs. Pearson, who obtained seven clutches. They remarked 

 that the birds did not nest in close company, each pair appearing to take possession 

 of about a mile of country. During the same summer Mr. H. L. Popham 

 made the very interesting discovery that the Grey Plover bred in the valley of the 

 Yenisei, and he obtained four nests near Golchika. 



Diagnostic characters — Sguatarola, with the axillaries black, and a 

 small hind toe. Length, 11 to 12 inches. 



