PEEWIT 



LAPWING. 



PLATE CLV. FIGURE II. 



Vanellus eristatus, .... FLEMING. SELBY. 

 Charadrius vanellus, . . . NAUMANN. 



THE nest of this common resident is a small and slight 

 depression in the soil, with the addition sometimes of 

 a few bits of grass, heath, or rushes ; the footprint of a cow 

 or horse being frequently utilised. 



The eggs, which are usually four in number, are very 

 delicate eating, and sold in immense numbers for the 

 purpose. They are so disposed in their narrow bed as to 

 take up the least amount of room, the pointed ends laid 

 inwards, towards the centre of the nest. They vary to an 

 extraordinary degree, though those in each nest are generally 

 very much alike : some are blotted nearly all over with 

 deep shades of brown. In general they are of a deep dull 

 green colour, blotted and irregularly marked with brownish 

 black. They are wide at one end and taper to the other, 

 as is the case with birds of this class. They are hatched 

 in fifteen or sixteen days. 



One brood only is generally reared in the year, but if 

 the first clutch of eggs be removed others will be laid. 



