12 SPUR-WINGED PLOVER. 



Plover breeding in the soutli of Eussia, but I am not 

 aware of any nests having been found there. 



The egg which I have figured was taken by Mr. 

 Tristram himself, at Boulac, Egypt. Mr. Tristram has 

 kindly added the following remarks from his notes: — 

 "I took the nest of Vanellus spinosus, in a field on 

 the hill opposite Boulac, on March 1st., 1858. The 

 field was fallow, and the four eggs laid after the 

 manner of the Lapwings, on the bare ground, in a 

 slight depression. The bird, which had not begun to 

 sit, ran a few yards straight from her eggs, and then, 

 after the manner of the Lapwing, feigned lameness, 

 and vociferously repeated its shrill note, which is 

 much more sharp and harsh than that of our Lapwing. 

 Finding that I continued to search about the spot 

 where I had at first detected her, she took to her 

 wings, and kept tumbling over head just in front of 

 me; and in a few minutes was joined by her mate, 

 who vehemently seconded her efforts to draw me 

 onwards. 



''The habits of this bird in every respect resemble 

 those of its English congener; but it is more easy of 

 approach, probably from being less persecuted. It is 

 one of the most abundant birds on the cultivated 

 banks of the Nile, several pairs being found in every 

 field." 



I copy the following from Badeker: — "The nest is 

 placed in a hole in the sand, either in an island or 

 field. It lays from three to six eggs: these are one 

 inch three lines long, and about an inch broad. The 

 ground-colour, difficult to describe, is mixed up with 

 green, grey, and yellow. This ground-colour is 

 covered with black and dark brown spots, which only at 

 the point leave the ground-colour free, while they 



