522 Dates of Arrival of Tivcnty-nine Migratory Birds 



seasons of year, as it is very abundant upon all our warrens 

 during the breeding season, and is the first bird that gives us 

 notice of its arrival in the spring, by its low plaintive whistle 

 whilst on the wing, and garrulous note of satisfaction when 

 it alights upon the ground. These notes are peculiarly pleas- 

 ing at this early season of the year upon our warrens, where 

 hitherto silence has reigned for several months, only inter- 

 rupted by the occasional whistle of a flock of golden plovers 

 as they sweep past you ; but, as the season advances, its notes 

 are too melancholy for the freshness of spring. It commences 

 its nidification very early, as I have found them sitting upon 

 their eggs on the 30th of March. It merely scrapes a slight 

 cavity in the earth, at the bottom of which it sometimes places 

 a number of small stones about the size of peas, upon which 

 it deposits its four eggs ; at other times upon the bare sand. 

 I never saw a nest lined with grass, as stated to be the case 

 by some authors. The old birds display great anxiety for the 

 safety of their nest, more particularly when they have young 

 ones ; when they will employ all sorts of manoeuvres, feigning 

 lameness, &c, to draw the attention of intruders from them. 

 After having reared their offspring, they all take their de- 

 parture, by the middle of August, for the sea coast, where 

 they remain throughout the winter. 



Lapwing (Vanellus cristdtus Meyer.) — This species does 

 not remain with us during the winter months, generally mak- 

 ing its appearance in the spring, in small flocks, which soon 

 disperse themselves in pairs over the warren and adjoining 

 fields, &c. They are at present tolerably numerous, although 

 of late years very much decreased, in consequence of their 

 eggs being so successfully gathered, to a very late period, 

 during the breeding season, by persons who are adepts in 

 discovering their nests. So expert have some men become, 

 that they will not only walk straight towards the nest, which 

 may be at a considerable distance, but tell the probable num- 

 ber of eggs it may contain, previously to inspection, generally 

 judging of the situation, and number of eggs, by the conduct 

 of the female bird ; which, on being disturbed, leaves its eggs, 

 and flies off* to a considerable distance, without uttering any 

 note of alarm. The male bird evinces great courage in the 

 defence of the nest. Stationed upon a slight eminence in its 

 vicinity, he no sooner espies a rook, hawk, or any bird, how- 

 ever large, approaching in the direction of his nest, than he 

 immediately makes up to it, and, by a series of buffetings, 

 compels it to alter its course. Towards the autumn, they 

 assemble in flocks, when they leave this district. A white 

 variety of this species, a female, has resorted to the warren 



