LAPWING. 253 



Family CHARADRIID/E. Genus Vaneli.us. 



Sub-family CHARADEIIN.E. 



LAPWING. 



Vanellus cristatus, JFo// and Meyer. 

 Single Brooded. Laying season, April and May. 



British breeding area : The Lapwing is generally- 

 distributed throughout the British Lslands during the 

 nesting season, breeding in almost every part, including 

 the Hebrides, the Orkneys, and the Shetlands, but 

 certainly preferring high ground for the purpose, 

 especially in the south. 



Breeding habits : The Lapwing is a resident in 

 our islands, but its numbers are increased during autumn 

 and winter by arrivals from the Continent, whilst the 

 indigenous birds wander about a good deal, many leaving 

 the more northern and exposed districts entirely, during 

 the latter season. The breeding-haunts of the Lapwing 

 embrace a great variety of scenery. It may be found 

 nesting on moorlands (though not at such an altitude 

 as the Golden Plover), commons, heaths, rough fallows, 

 fields of grain, pastures, and marshes. Although great 

 numbers of birds often breed on a small area of ground, 

 the Lapwing cannot be said to nest in colonies, but it is 

 social enough right through that period. The nest is 

 invariably placed on the ground, either in a little 

 natural hollov/, or in the footprint of a cow or horse, 

 or even scraped out by the bird itself. It is frequently 

 under the shelter of a tuft of rushes, or even in the 

 centre ; often on the top of a mole-hill, or on the bare 

 turf or ground amongst the growing grain. The hollow 

 is lined with a few bits of dry herbage, but in many 

 cases even this slight provision is omitted. The Lap- 



