138 VANELLUS CRIST ATUS. 



well-known bird. Thus Mr. Robertson, in his Agricultural 

 Survey of Kincardineshire, says : — " The Green Plover, or 

 Peas-weep, arrives here so very correctly about Candlemas 

 term, that the storm which generally happens at that season 

 of the year goes by its name (the Tchuchet storm)." Many of 

 them, however, betake themselves to the vicinity of marshes 

 and moors, in any situation, or to the downs or links, or 

 disperse over the fields. Their nests, which are slightly 

 constructed, being often merely a few straws or blades laid 

 in a shallow cavity, are found sometimes on an exposed slope 

 or level part of the moors, where the herbage is short, some- 

 times on tufts in the midst of a bog or morass, sometimes on 

 the bare open ground in a field, and, owing to its nature 

 and the colours of the eggs, is not readily perceived. Should 

 one approach it, the female runs off long before he comes 

 up, and both she and the male fly about, now high, now 

 low, suddenly descending and rising, in gentle curves or 

 abrupt windings, and performing a variety of evolutions, 

 sometimes striking their wings so forcibly as to cause a loud 

 noise, and usually emitting their peevish wail. So great is 

 their anxiety, that they will frequently come very near, and 

 may thus be easily shot on such occasions. Should other 

 pairs be in the neighbourhood, some of them will also fly 

 up, and join in the performance. Meanwhile, the female 

 will perhaps steal away quietly to some distance, and run 

 limpingly along, with the most innocently pitiable appear- 

 ance imaginable, stopping now and then as if to attract your 

 attention, and entice you off in pursuit. Or she may go 

 farther away, and hanging out one or both of her wings, run 

 coweringly along. So excellent is the simulation, that one 

 can hardly refrain from pursuing, even although smiling at 

 his folly. It is needless to state, that no one has any chance 

 of catching one of these lame Lapwings. When a dog 

 approaches their nest, they are still more active in attempting 

 to intimidate or bewilder him, and sometimes will even hit 

 him with one of their wings. 



During the whole of the breeding season, even when not 

 disturbed, but acting under the impulse of their natural 

 instinct, they may be seen flying about, hovering, gliding, 



