The nest is merely a shallow platform of roots and bents, placed on a small hollowed-out “scrape” on the ground. Over the actual choice of a site there seems to be some difficulty, as many “scrapes” are generally to be found within a few yards of the spot eventually chosen. Towards the latter end of March the four pear-shaped eggs, so well known in poulterers’ shops, are laid, and the hen commences her incubation duties, which last about nineteen days. During this period her mate wanders about in the vicinity of the nest, keeping an ever-watchful eye for any intruder. As soon as we are seen approaching he is up in the air, flying round with a great noise and performing at the same time a curious tumble, but recovering himself before touching the ground; after two or three minutes of these antics however, he goes away, having apparently no further interest in us or the place. We may then walk about the field in vain so far as that pair is concerned, for they will not return to settle while we are there and the eggs are so protectively coloured that the chances of our seeing them, even if we walk right by them, are exceedingly remote. While we were watching the male bird perform his curious antics, the hen, warned by his cries, quietly slipped off the nest, and flying low skimmed the next hedge and so away, and he, having watched her safely into a neighbouring field, goes off to join her and leaves us to find the eggs if we can. If we retire, however, they will not be long gone; he will soon fly back, and having ascertained that the danger is over and uttered no warning cry, she will immediately follow, and settling near the nest, run to it and once more cover her eggs. When the young are hatched, however, matters are very different; both birds will then rise, and flying round our heads beseech us with piteous cries to leave their young alone. These cries serve the purpose of making the young squat and hide, and their greyish green down with black mottlings so exactly assimilates in colour with the ground, that they are almost impossible to see. The young leave the nest as soon as they are hatched, and utter a feeble cry not unlike that of the adults; at first their parents feed them most carefully, picking up grubs, flies, spiders, or any other insect that comes their way, while the young run up and take it from their beaks, but in a few days they feed themselves, though still carefully watched and fed by their parents. When they are full grown, at about six weeks old, they collect in large flocks and wander over the country. In October and November enormous flocks come over from the Continent and settle often for three weeks or a month in a particular field, which is usually resorted to yearly by these birds. As winter comes on they wander about according to the weather, wherever they can find suitable food, but with the first warm days of February the return north begins, and March finds them back once more in their summer home.