times in the fields as well; and, as is their wont, when laid in the latter situation, the eggs are surrounded with small pebbles or pieces of shells; but the following nesting arrangement I venture to think very rare, and should much like to know if any of your correspondents have met with a similar nest. On May 26th, 1900, I found, in a ploughed field, a rude nest, constructed of bents, resembling that of the Lapwing, only smaller; this contained three eggs of the Ringed Plover. The ground on which it lay was about to be harrowed, so I removed the eggs. On June 14th I found a similar nest (evidently the work of the same pair of birds) a short distance from where the first had been constructed, but this one was placed in a patch of coarse grass, and contained four Ringed Plover's eggs. I am aware that Col. Feilden describes a nest of the Einged Plover lined with the leaves and stems of Atriplex littoralis, but this was found abroad, and referred to the small variety of Ringed Plover.—J.E.H. Kelso (67, Elm Grove, Southsea, Hants).
On the feigning of Injury by the Lapwing (Vanellus vulgaris) to attract attention from its Young.—Whilst looking through some back volumes of 'The Zoologist,' I noticed (1897, p. 473) the statement, "that sitting Lapwings (that is, females) decoy intruders from their nests by their devices," described as an ornithological fallacy. I conclude that by the word "devices" the writer refers to the feigning of injury usually attributed to that bird. Mr. E. Selous appears to be equally sceptical upon this subject, for in his book 'Bird-Watching' (p. 66) he writes:—"Perhaps it may be wondered why I have not included the Peewit in the list of birds which employ, or appear to employ, a ruse in favour of their young ones, since this bird is always given as the stock instance of it. The reason is that whilst the birds I mention [Nightjar, Mallard, &c.—B.B.R.] have always, in my experience, gone off, so to speak, like clockwork, when the occasion for it arrived, I have never known the Peewit to do so, though I have probably disturbed as many scores—perhaps hundreds—of them, under the requisite conditions, as I have units of the others. I have also inquired of keepers and warreners, and found their experience to tally with mine. They have spoken of the cock-bird 'leading you astray' aerially, whilst the hen sits on the nest, and of both of them flying with screams close about your head when the young are out, which statements I have often verified. But they have never professed to have seen a Peewit flapping over the ground as with a broken wing in the way it is so constantly said to do. I cannot therefore but think that by some chance or other an action, common to many birds, has been particu-
