NON-INDIGENOUS BRITISH BIRDS. 



Family CHARADRIID.^. Genus Vanellus. 



Sub-family CHARADRIIN.^. 



SOCIABLE LAPWING. 



Vanellus gregarius {Fal/as). 



(British : Very rare abnormal autumn migrant.) 



Number of Broods unknown. Laying season unknown. 



Breeding area: South Central Palaearctic region. 

 The Sociable Lapwing is believed to breed on the 

 steppes of South-eastern Russia, from the Crimea as 

 far north as Sarepta, and lat. 33°, and southwards to 

 Astrakhan and the Caucasus. It is also presumed to 

 breed in South-western Siberia and Turkestan as far 

 east as Lake Saisan and Western Mongolia. 



Breeding habits : Of the habits of the Sociable 

 Lapwing during the nesting season nothing whatever 

 is known. It is said to frequent the steppes and plains 

 for breeding purposes, but its nest has never been 

 described. 



Range of egg colouration and measurement : 

 All that is known respecting the eggs of the Sociable 

 Lapwing is contained in Dresser's Birds of Europe. 

 That naturalist writes — " A single ^'g^ sent to me by 

 Mr. Moschler, who informs me that it was obtained by 

 his Sarepta collector, v/ith the birds, closely resembles 

 eggs of the Common Lapwing ( Vanellus cristatus), but 

 is, if anything, rather paler in ground colour, and a trifle 

 more sparingly marked w^ith spots and blotches." 



Diagnostic characters: In the present state of 

 our knowledge it is impossible to attempt to give any 

 characters by which the eggs of the Sociable Lapwing 

 may be distinguished from those of allied species. 



