CHAPTER XIV 



THE MIGRATIONS OF THE LArWING, 



VANELLUS VA NELL US 



The migrations of the Lapwing in the British Islands 

 are especially interesting, and possess features which 

 are not shared by any of the species previously 

 treated of. 



When we come to investigate the various movements 

 performed by this well-known bird, it is surprising to 

 find how largely some of them escape notice. This may 

 to some extent be accounted for by the fact that the 

 Lapwing is partially nocturnal in habit, and hence less 

 prone than most species to approach the light-stations 

 or otherwise come under notice, when performing some 

 of its most important movements ; but this does not, 

 I think, afford complete explanation, for other Limicolcs, 

 of even more pronounced nocturnal proclivities, such 

 as the Woodcock, do not pass unobserved to a like 

 degree. 



In addition to being a resident during the major 

 portion of the year in extensive areas of our islands, the 

 Lapwing is chiefly, indeed almost entirely, a summer 

 visitor to Shetland, Orkney, the Hebrides, the more 

 elevated districts throughout the mainland of Great 



