Northern Observations of Inland Birds 39 



When searching for lapwing eggs it is a very good plan 

 to carry with one a folding cup and a flask of water. 

 The eggs, as collected, are immersed in the water. If 

 they show any tendency to stand on end they should 

 be returned to the nest. Do not shake the eggs in order 

 to ascertain whether they have been sat upon, for, if so, 

 the developing chick within will die. 



The lapwing has many foes, among which inland gulls 

 take a prominent place. I have repeatedly seen gulls 

 aHght in a field immediately after a flock of lapwings 

 has alighted there. Thereafter there is no peace for the 

 lapwings. The gulls sit idly watching while the weaker 

 birds search industriously for food, and immediately 

 one of them discovers a dainty morsel two or more gulls 

 are upon him to take it from him. The gulls tease and 

 disturb the lapwings to such an extent that in some parts 

 the poor birds are really hard put to it to obtain sufficient 

 food. Also the gulls steal their eggs and swallow their 

 newly-hatched chicks, and since so many gulls, particu- 

 larly the blackheaded species, have taken during recent 

 years to breeding inland, the lapwings in some parts have 

 appreciably decreased in numbers. 



Flood waters are a far greater enemy to the lapwing 

 than is man, or — during certain seasons — than any other 

 mortal foe. The birds are specially partial for nesting 

 purposes to low-lying and rough pasture lands, where 

 bulrushes and swampy patches abound, and during a 

 wet spring thousands of acres of their favourite haunts 

 may be inundated by flood waters. Here is an example. 



Early in the spring of 1921 I walked for many miles 

 over the low-lying pasture lands in the vicinity of 

 Callander and also in the Dochart Valley in search of 

 plover eggs, but, as I could find none, I concluded that 

 it was too early in the season. On the day following very 

 heavy rain fell, and throughout the Highlands vast areas 



