58 DISPOSITION TO SECURE A TERRITORY 



definite position, and singling out some tree or 

 prominent bush, which will serve as a head- 

 quarters, advertises its presence there by song. 

 At first the bird restricts its visits, which though 

 frequent in occurrence are of short duration, for 

 the most part to the early hours of the morning ; 

 it disappears as suddenly as it appeared, and 

 one can trace its flight to the feeding grounds 

 — a homestead or perhaps some newly sown 

 field. But by degrees the impulse to seek the 

 society of the flock grows less and less pro- 

 nounced, the visits to the territory are more 

 and more prolonged, and the occupation of 

 it then becomes the outstanding feature of 

 the bird's existence. This in outline is the 

 course of procedure as it appears to an external 

 observer. 



But although much can be learnt from the 

 lives of these smaller species, there is no gain- 

 saying the fact that a great deal of patient 

 observation is required, and the process is apt 

 to become tedious. There are others, however, 

 which are more readily observed, whilst their 

 life-histories afford just as clear an insight into 

 the effect produced by the new disposition 

 upon the developing situation ; and among these 

 the Lapwing takes a prominent position, because 

 it is plentiful and inhabits open ground where 

 it is easily kept in view. 



There is a water meadow with which I am 

 familiar, where large numbers resort annually 

 for the purpose of procreation. Here they 

 begin to arrive towards the end of February, 



