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CITARADRIID^-. 
difficulty of observing them closely and constantly in their 
breeding haunts, facts bearing upon their habits in the summer 
season are not easy to gatlier. During the last eleven years 
I have scarcely been able to add anything to a note written in 
1864: — “In Mr Newman’s useful little book, ‘Birds’ Nesting’ 
(p. 34), the materials of the nest are spoken of as ‘scarcely any, — 
a few fragments of heather and dried grasses carelessly scraped 
together;’ and on referring to my note-books, I find that those 
very words might well have been applied to eleven out of the 
fifteen nests of this species (Golden Plover) therein described. 
Occasionally, however, and particularly during the first few 
weeks of the breeding season, the nest is constructed with 
more than ordinary care, and then consists of a deep 
saucer-shaped cavity, thickly and compactly lined with the 
above-mentioned materials, measuring between five and six 
inches across. It is almost invariably situated among moss 
or heather, sometimes by the side of a stone or upon some 
slight eminence, where there is sufficient growth to afford 
concealment. 
“ The only opportunity which has fallen to my lot of observ- 
ing the length of time occupied by incubation occurred three 
years ago. About noon on the 7th of May I found four warm 
eggs, and on blowing one, ascertained that it was perfectly 
fresh. I afterwards visited the nest almost daily, and on the 
evening of the 23d observed that two of the remaining three 
eggs were already broken by the chicks. Next morning, on 
my approaching the nest, three young birds, mottled gray and 
yellow, ran out of the neighbouring heather : there was no 
appearance of broken shells in or near the nest. I have never 
known the male take any part in the task of incubation, 
although he is very attentive to his mate, and constantly 
supplies her with food while she is sitting ; but both birds are 
so sliy that, at such times, their habits can be witnessed only 
Ijy means of long and patient watching from some good hiding- 
place, such as a large stone or the deep channel of a burn. 
While tlie female is sitting the male takes- his station upon 
