HABITS OF THE PEEWIT. f 137 



which I keep the glasses, rolls again, in the same place (though 

 turned the other way) in the most marked manner. Then, rising, 

 he runs forward in the direction from which he has come, in the 

 curious way before noted, the head lowered to line of back, and 

 beak pointing straight forward. 



In a little while the same thing occurs again, but again I am 

 not quick enough with the glasses to be quite certain which bird 

 it is that leads the way in these performances, immediately after 

 the pairing. ' In each instance, however, I think it was the male. 

 He now rolls in two different places, continuing, after the first 

 time, to run on further in the same direction, before again stop- 

 ping and rolling. It is only now, on this second occasion, that 

 the other one runs up to him. The actions of the two are then 

 as before, except that the last comer — the female, as I think — ■ 

 rolls this time, slightly, also. It is in a very imperfect and, as 

 one may say, rudimentary manner, but I catch the characteristic, 

 though subdued motion with the tail. 



My glass was now upon a Peewit standing negligently on the 

 warrens, when another one, entering its field, flew right down 

 upon it, and either paired, or attempted to do so, without 

 previously alighting on the ground. The time occupied was so 

 short that I should not have supposed more than an attempt had 

 taken place, had not the actions of the two birds immediately 

 afterwards made me conclude that they had paired. They were 

 almost precisely the same as on the first occasion, but I saw them 

 more clearly from the commencement. Immediately after the 

 pairing the male bird made his curious little run forward by the 

 side of the female and a little beyond her, the characteristic 

 features of it being somewhat emphasized.* He then made a 

 short pause, but almost immediately continued straight on — a 

 long run, at the end of which he pitched forward and commenced 

 to roll. The female shortly came up to him in the same manner 

 as on the other occasions, and the male bird now, moving his 

 length forward and sinking down again, she sat in the spot where 

 he had just rolled, pecking, as before described, whilst he rolled 

 again just in front of her. The two birds then rose and stood, 

 looking and pecking in the way that I have before noted. After 



* By referring back to p. 134 it will be seen that the actions after (I) 

 rolling, and (2) copulation, which rolling so much resembles, are identical. 

 Zool. 4th ser. vol. VI., April, 1902. i\r 



