Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 6 (1902).djvu/92

62 the other, and the same fisherman as I have mentioned above 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.

(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.

(Ægialitis hiaticula).—Local name, "Stone Runner." 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 3½ 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 grassland, especially towards evening.

(Æ. cantiana).—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 ¾ in. deep. The pebbles on the inside of the nest had a rather worn and stained appearance from the bird sitting on the eggs.

(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