382 THE PLOYERS 



in the nest again, or sit on the eggs until all are laid, but afterwards 

 he bears his full share in the duties of incubation, and also keeps 

 watch, and warns the sitting female of danger. 



When a breeding-ground is invaded, the males fly off somewhat 

 ostentatiously, while the hens, after leaving their nests, run for some 

 distance, and then flap quietly away, but a few feet above the ground. 

 It is not, however, by any means a hard and fast rule that sitting 

 lapwings always run before taking flight. It depends to a certain 

 extent on how near one approaches without being discovered. Their 

 watchfulness, and the open nature of the places where they generally 

 nest, guards, as a rule, against a near approach, but the conditions 

 may sometimes assist to a sudden surprise, and then the birds may 

 be seen to fly straight from the nests. But it depends more, I think, 

 on which bird is sitting. The female is more secretive in her habits, 

 and is nearly sure to run, unless suddenly put off", but the male almost 

 invariably flies straight from the nest. 1 The same distinction between 

 the methods of male and female obtains with other species of Waders. 

 If th eggs are fresh the breeding-ground will be quite deserted by 

 the birds until the intruder leaves, but if incubation is far advanced 

 the birds will circle around, or fly to and fro with querulous cries. 

 They follow the intruder until he is clear of the breeding-ground, then 

 ceasing their cries they sweep round and fly rapidly back. When the 

 young are hatched the old birds become very bold and noisy in their 

 distress. They circle round an intruder and occasionally swoop as if 

 they are going to strike ; but their usual method is to fly to and fro, 

 quickening their pace when near, making music with their wings, and 

 repeating at monotonous intervals their rasping alarm-note "pee-ee-yit" 

 The young birds meanwhile crouch low, and being endowed with 

 highly protective pattern and colour are comparatively safe. They 

 remain quite still unless handled, or the herbage close to them is 

 disturbed, when they run off generally in different directions. Once 

 they have been disturbed it is very difficult to make them settle down 



1 See also Field, 1892, vol. Ixix. pp. 79, 545, 585, 625, 666. 



