LAPWING 385 



in Komney Marsh, which is well covered in most of the 

 low moist fields with the common Rush (Jimcus coin- 

 munis), and about Orlestone, &c. 



The last seen of the Lapwings was on November 21. 

 They were then massing in hundreds in Eomney Marsh, 

 Some of the great flocks were at a great height, circling 

 round and round until almost out of sight, while other 

 flocks were within gunshot. 



The earliest date noted of the return of the Lapwing 

 was on March G, in small flocks only, but there are 

 always some in winter. From time immemorial, with 

 all its persecution and robbery of its eggs, the Lap- 

 wing still holds its own. Mr. J. Gould, in his Birds of 

 Great Britain, states that "Dr. F. Plomley informed Mr. 

 Yarrell that two hundred dozen eggs were sent from 

 Eomney Marsh to Dover alone in 1839," and this has 

 been going on ever since. These birds used to breed on 

 Grange Farm at Boxley in 1857. 



Mr. W. H. Power in his Birds Observed at Bain- 

 ham, 1865, says : " A few pairs annually remain on the 

 marshes to breed, but I fancy their eggs are generally 

 taken by the shepherds, as I have only once seen a 

 young bird in the neighbourhood." 



In 1900 Mr. T. Hepburn says, in his notes on the 

 birds on the beach at Dungeness : " May 10 to 14 : 

 There were great numbers of these birds on the beach 

 adjoining marshland. Many of them breed right out 

 on the shingle ; in fact, they lay their eggs anywhere, 

 either on the grass-land or on the shingle. There is 

 a considerable traffic in their eggs during the early 

 months of the spring. In all of the nests that I found 

 there were clutches of only three eggs, and as they were 

 also hard set, this was the full clutch laid in these par- 

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