224 GRALLATORES. VANELLUS. LAPWING. 



readers to the original work. The plumage of the Lapwing 

 is rich, and the colours well contrasted, and it is of very 

 sprightly appearance. It runs swiftly, during which it has 

 a singular habit of stopping suddenly at intervals, and put- 

 ting its bill to the ground, but without picking up any thing, 

 apparently to bring its body, as it were, to a proper equi- 

 poise. 



PLATE #4. represents the male and female in summer plu- 

 mage. 



General Bill black. Forehead, crown, chin, and gorget, shining 

 tion. greenish-black. Occipital crest composed of long slen- 



der black feathers, turning slightly upwards. From 

 the corners of the under mandible runs a black streak, 

 passing under the eyes to the nape of the neck. Region 

 of the eyes, nape, and sides of the neck, pure white. 

 Back, scapulars, and tertials, pale glossy olive-green; 

 the latter being tinged with purplish-red. Wing-coverts 

 deep olive-green, glossed with blue and purplish red. 

 Wings much rounded ; the quills black, with the tips of 

 the first four dirty white. Lower part of the back 

 clove-brown, glossed with green. Upper tail coverts 

 orange-brown ; the lower ones paler. Tail having the 

 basal half of the feathers white ; the rest black, with 

 white tips ; except the outermost feather, which is en- 

 tirely white. Belly and abdomen pure white. Legs 

 brownish-purple red. 



In winter the throat and chin are white ; the feathers of 

 the upper part of the plumage margined with reddish- 

 white, and with less of the gloss, and reddish-purple 

 tints. The young have the occipital crest very short ; 

 the face and neck white, speckled with brown ; and the 

 feathers of the back and scapulars more deeply mar- 

 gined with pale .ochreous yellow. Legs and toes grey, 

 with a pink tinge. 



