CRESTED LAPWING. 139 



slanting, and curving along, shooting through the air with a 

 continuous noise of the wings, or causing an undulated loud 

 hum by flapping them strongly, and at the same time emit- 

 ting various modifications of their usual cry. This behaviour 

 is, no doubt, analogous to the aerial rambles of the Snipe at 

 the same season. The Golden Plover also exhibits a similar 

 tendency, but it flies more sedately, not indulging in these 

 fanciful freaks, although it utters a cry different from its 

 usual whistle. 



The eggs are four, very large for the size of the bird, but 

 much smaller than those of the Golden Plover, and, like 

 them, pyriform, their average length an inch and ten- 

 twelfths, their greatest breadth an inch and a quarter, or 

 somewhat less. They are generally pale brownish-yellow, 

 blotched, spotted, and dotted with brownish-black ; but their 

 ground-colour varies to greenish-grey, or olivaceous, and the 

 markings are various, being small or large, thickly or sparely 

 distributed. The young are closely covered with soft down, 

 variegated with greyish-yelloAv, brown, and black, and leave 

 the nest immediately after exclusion, crouching among the 

 moss or herbage when alarmed. So long as they remain 

 motionless, it is almost impossible to perceive them ; but the 

 anxiety of their parents often betrays their place of refuge, 

 for they will fly up, screaming, flapping, and wheeling about. 

 The eggs are considered delicate food, and are sold as such 

 in London ; but I am not aware of their being brought to 

 the markets in Scotland. Lapwings themselves are not 

 much inferior to Golden Plovers in tins respect, and in 

 winter and spring are not uncommon in the markets of the 

 larger towns south of the Forth. In the north of Scotland, 

 however, the flesh of this bird, which is dark-coloured, and 

 seldom fat, does not seem to be held in much estimation. 



Young fledged. — When fully fledged, the young have 

 the bill dusky, the feet dull olive-brown, the iris dark-brown. 

 The crest is as yet short, and the feathers in general are 

 much less compact and glossy than in the adult, but the 

 colour is the same. The sides of the forehead, the cheeks, 

 and the throat are white ; there is a black streak under the 



