THE BIRD-LIFE OF LONDON 
have eggs taken as recently as 1907. It also breeds near 
Edgware. 
During summer the few pairs of Lapwings that breed 
within the area of Greater London will be found scattered 
over the grass-meadows and newly sown grain-fields. 
They cannot readily be overlooked, for as one walks 
across these places the birds rise and circle in troubled, 
heavy flight, their peculiar mewing notes of weet-a- 
weet, pee-ueet-ueet, and their strongly contrasted colours 
—looking mostly black and white—and broad, ample 
wings rendering identification easy. If not pursued 
the big birds eventually settle again, dropping down 
one by one, often with raised wings, which are held 
open for a moment ere being folded to the body. Upon 
the ground the bird looks almost mouse-colour and the 
long crest is easily remarked with a good glass. ‘The bird 
continues more or less social through the summer and 
in autumn becomes quite gregarious, assembling into 
flocks, which wander about in quest of food. It is then 
that they are chiefly remarked upon the open ground 
near sewage-farms, market-gardens, marshy commons, 
and similar spots. ‘The food of the Lapwing consists of 
worms, snails, insects and larve in summer; but in 
winter small seeds, tender shoots, and a variety of marine 
creatures are eaten. Much of this food is sought after 
dusk, an hour at which the bird becomes very noisy, 
especially during early summer. ‘The Lapwing breeds 
in April and May; in very early seasons eggs may be 
found at the end of March. So far as London is con- 
cerned the nest is generally made on the open fallows, 
or amongst growing grain. ‘This nest, if nest it can be 
called, is a mere hollow in the ground, sometimes the 
footprint of a horse or cow, in which is scattered, but 
not always, a few scraps of dry grass or leaves. The 
four pyriform eggs range from buff to pale olive-blue 
or green in ground colour, spotted and blotched with 
270 
