62 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



the other, and the same fisherman as I have mentioned ahove said 

 that they always call the larger egg a cock's egg, meaning that a male 

 bird would be hatched out of it. The same day another pair of these 

 eggs was offered to me for sale, and I was informed of a further pair 

 having been found two days previously. This shows that there are 

 several pairs breeding on the beach, and also that they must find it a 

 difficult matter to bring their business to a satisfactory conclusion. 



Dotterel (Eudromias morinellus). — Local name, " Land Dotterel." 

 May 10th-14th. Saw several pairs of these birds on this visit, but saw 

 none in June or July. 



Ringed Plover [Mgialitis hiaticula). — Local name, " Stone Run- 

 ner." May 10th-14th. This is a common bird on the beach, and nests 

 there in considerable numbers. Owing to the close similarity in the 

 colouring of the eggs and the shingle, and to the artful behaviour of 

 the old birds, its eggs are far from easy to find. I was shown a nest 

 on May 12th with four eggs in it. The nest was a neat hollow made 

 in a patch of rather small shingle, and measured 3£ in. diameter and 

 1 in. deep. It was just big enough to take the four eggs, with the 

 small ends all accurately pointed to the centre, and slightly depressed. 

 July 16th-21st. Was told of a nest with three eggs in it having been 

 found a week previously. The birds were just as numerous on the 

 beach as during May. One could not walk far without one's attention 

 being called to it by its plaintive whistle, as it flew round in wide 

 circles. Large numbers were to be often seen feeding on the grass- 

 land, especially towards evening. 



Kentish Plover ( M. cant i ana). — May 10th-14th. I was introduced 

 to this small and somewhat rare little Plover by one of my fishermen 

 friends, who showed a very considerable knowledge of its breeding 

 habits. He informed me that he knew of at least four pairs breeding 

 on different parts of the beach, and that each of these pairs would, if 

 it had the chance, lay two clutches of eggs. After watching one pair 

 of the birds through our glasses, he said, from their behaviour, he 

 should judge that they had not started laying yet ; and he took me off 

 to another part of the beach, where he very soon showed me a nest 

 with three eggs in it. I found the eggs most difficult to distinguish, 

 even when close to the nest. The hollow in the shingle in which they 

 were laid was 3 in. in diameter and f in. deep. The pebbles on the 

 inside of the nest had a rather worn and stained appearance from the 

 bird sitting on the eggs. 



Lapwing ( Vanellus vulgaris). — May 10th-14th. There were great 

 numbers of these birds on the beach and adjoining marsh-land. Many 

 of them breed right out on the shingle : in fact, they lay their eggs 



