U8 BRITISH BIRDS' KESTS. 



LANDRAIL. See Ckake, Coen. 



LAPWING. Also Peewit. 



Descrijjfioii of Parent Birds. — Length about 

 twelve iuclies. Beak somewhat short, straight, and 

 bhick. Irides hazeL Forehead, crown, and long, 

 narrow, upturned crest black, glossed with green. 

 From the base of the beak a dirty white line passes 

 over the eye and round under the crest. A streak 

 of black runs under the eye and round to the nape 

 of the neck, which is brown, mixed with white. 

 Back and wing-coverts and scapulars brownish- 

 green, glossed with purple and blue. Primaries 

 black, with white spots at the ends of the first three 

 or four ; secondaries white on the basal half. Upper 

 tail-coverts reddish-chestnut. Basal half of tail 

 white ; lower half black. Chin, throat, and upper 

 half of breast black ; lower half of breast, belly, and 

 vent white ; under tail-coverts pale rust-colour. 

 Legs and toes dull fleshy pink ; claws black. 



The female has the crest much shorter, and is 

 less bright in her colour. 



Situation and Locality. — On the ground in rough 

 pasLure-land, marshes, fallow fields, and other suit- 

 able places throughout the British Isles. I know 

 one place within seven miles of tlie bricks of London 

 where the bird breeds year by year. Our illustra- 

 tion was procured on the Westmoreland hills. 



Materials. — A few bits of dry grass, rushes, or 

 moss, used as a lining to the depression in which 

 the eggs are laid. 



Eggs. — Four, although five have been reported. 



