Sept.,1918 NOTES ON TIlE NESTING OF THE MOUNTAI-N PLOVER 159 half an hour in an unsuccessful effort to locate the nest, during which time the birds disappeared without evidencing interest in our movements. Upon our re- l.urn a couple of hours later, they were again where first seen, and after a long search, during which the birds ran out of sight, a single egg was found. This Fig. 26. MOUNTAIN PIA)VER, WITH WINGS RAPIDLY OPENING AND CLOSING, AND BILL OPEN, AS SHE FOLLOWED TIIE CAMERA MAN BACK TO' THE NEST. apparently had been dropped at random, and so far as I could see, ?night as well have beeff deposited anywhere else on the prairie. Placing a small stake with a tag about twenty steps distant, we left the egg. On revisiting the site one ;veek later, May 27, my assistant found the hirds present and finally located the nest, which then contained three fresh 27. MOUNTAIN PLOVER, IIE'I'WF. EN HER EGGS AND THE CAMERA,
IUMPING FORWARD ? ATTACK TIlE I"?T OF THE PH?OGRAPHER?
?'ITll WINGS ?NAPPILY OPEN1 NG AND CIdSING. eggs. He reported that on this occasion one bird remained close by all the time he was in the vicinity of the uest, ?vith ?vings outspread and making much fuss. She was the first to be observed making demonstrations of this character. These were the only perfectly fresh eggs taken.
