sand amongst stones and stunted vegetation, without
any attempt at a nest; the complement is four, they
are, of course, smaller, and more elongated and thickly
speckled, than those of the Ringed Plover. In one
instance I came upon three of these eggs on the sand
between the wheel-ruts of a rough cart-road. The birds
did not display any particular anxiety at our approach,
but merely flew to a short distance and ran about
unconcernedly, uttering a short sharp whistle from time
to time. A shepherd, who shared our “ bucolica,”—
midday repast,—on one occasion, assured me that these
little birds sing like Larks before they begin to lay;
this is quite probable, but the only note that I ever
heard from them is that to which I have just alluded.
This bird may always be distinguished from the Ringed
Plover by the colour of the shafts of the primaries,
which are all dusky except the outer one, which alone is
white throughout.
