78 BRITAIN^S BIRDS AND THEIR NESTS. 



active little balls of fluffy down, as golden on the upper- 

 parts as are their parents. (One is figured in the plate of 

 nidifugous nestlings.) In four or five weeks they attain 

 their first plumage, very similar to that of the adults in 

 winter, and at the same time acquire the power of flight. 



THE LAPWING, OR PEEWIT 



(Vanellus vulgaris). 

 Plate 26. 



The remarks made in the previous chapter on the 

 distribution of our typical British Plovers do not extend 

 to this species — the Green Plover, as it is sometimes called. 

 It is, in fact, an inhabitant of more temperate regions 

 than the Arctic tundras, and is as abundant in our islands 

 as anywhere, and but sparingly distributed as far north 

 as the Arctic Circle. Within our area it is widespread, 

 and even 'lone St Kilda' is visited on the spring passage. 

 From this it will be gathered that the Lapwing is to 

 some extent a migrant, although resident throughout the 

 year in many parts. For one thing, our islands form the 

 winter-quarters, or a part of the road to the winter- 

 quarters, of Lapwings from more northern countries. For 

 another, the species is practically a summer visitor to the 

 inland districts of the north of Scotland. In the north- 

 east of Scotland its spring return is associated with the 

 last blast of winter occurring about the same time, and 

 thence called the 'Teuchit Storm.' 



Some at least of our own breeding birds undertake 

 considerable transmarine migrations ; a bird hatched and 

 marked in Stirlingshire was recorded from southern France 

 in the following autumn. However this may be, the 



