150 BRITISH BIPiDS' NESTS. 



The latter number must be very rare, for I have 

 found a great many nests, but never once saw 

 more than four; and know several gamekeepers who 

 collect eggs for table use every spring, and they do 

 not recollect ever meeting with a nest containing 

 more. Dirty olive-green, blotched and spotted all 

 over with blackish-brown. Sometimes the ground 

 colour is light buff or buffish-brown, of various 

 shades. The markings are generally most numerous 

 round the larger end. Size about 1-85 by 1-35 in. 



Time. — April a.nd May, and sometimes as late as 

 June. 



Remarls. — Resident, though subject to southern 

 movement in winter. Notes, 'peeiuit, {he first 

 syllable long-drawn when used as a call-note, and 

 short when the bird is alarmed. Local and other 

 names : Peewit, Green Plover, Peewcep, Tufit, 

 Crested Lapwing. Sits lightly. A great deal has 

 been written to prove that the bird rises straight off 

 its eggs by some observers, and that it runs for some 

 distance before taking wing by others. My own 

 experience has been that the bird is exceedingly 

 quick of eye and ear, and if the intruder be dis- 

 covered at some distance, the bird runs before rising; 

 but if suddenly alarmed at close quarters, it will 

 ]ise straight off its nest. K good way to find the 

 Lapwing's eggs is to creep very quietly up behind 

 the wall or hedge of a field or pasture in which the 

 birds are known to breed, and then show oneself 

 suddenly, and mark where the birds rise from. 



LARK, SKY. >SVe Skylark. 



LARK, WOOD. Hee Woodlaek. 



