BIRD LIFE ON THE CAERNARVON COAST. 



MARITIME HABITS OF THE LAPWING, 



RESEMBLING THOSE OF THE RINGED PLOVER. 



By A. R. HOR\\OOI) 

 (Leicester Museum I. 



When staying for a few weeks on the Caernarvonshire 

 coast at Criccieth, and engaged in the study of the 

 habits of the different shore-birds and those 

 frequenting the mouths of estuaries, I came across 

 the nest of a Lapwing iVaiielltis viil)Jaris) containing 

 five eggs, which were generally unlike the ordinary 

 type of plover's egg, in being both shorter and 

 broader. All the eggs were similar in shape, and the 

 coloration and markings were normal, but of course 

 the number (five) was unusual. 



Likewise the nest was quite characteristic, though 

 more carefully constructed than is often the case in 

 inland stations, consisting of more ample material, 

 being composed of dried bents. It was placed at the 

 edge of the coarse grasses. Fesfiica. Agropyroii, and 

 so on. fringing the sandy beach. This was not more 

 than a dozen \'ards from high-water mark. Between 

 the line of \egetation and the sea there \\ere patches 

 of shingle. Amongst the pelibles forming the 

 shingle, the Lesser Tern breeds ; and among the 

 fine and sandv stretches removed some distance 

 from the beat of the surf tlie Ringed Plo\'er nest?. 

 whilst lower ciown still, in coarser sand and shell 

 fragments, quite close to the w ater"s edge, nests of the 

 Oyster Catcher could be found. Indeed these three 

 species (all of different genera) form a more or less 

 constant avian association characteristic of low-lying 

 littoral flats, especially along the western coasts of 

 the British Isles. 



When discovered, the Lapwing's eggs were warm, 

 indicating that the bird had but just left the nest. 

 Here it might be urged that the eggs were warm 

 owing to the heat of the sun, and that the Lapwing 

 is in the habit of leaving her eggs for the sun to 

 hatch, but this would not obtain in this instance, as 

 the day was dull, if not chill}-, and, moreover, we do 

 not credit this belief. No bird at least had risen up 

 from this bit of coast, upon which I had been 

 reconnoitring for some time, having beached the 

 boat by which I had approached it. And for a 

 considerable period I had been experimenting in 

 the search for nests of the Ringed Plover, Lesser 

 Tern, and Oyster Catcher, a good lesson in bird 

 habits. 



Now it is well known that the Ringed Plover does 

 not get up and fly away at once, or circle round and 

 round an intruder upon the approach of a human 

 being to the vicinity of its nest. But. on the other 

 hand, it simvih' leaves the nest unobserved lif 



possible), effecting this b\- running in and out of the 

 piled-up masses of parti-coloured shingle which in 

 plumage it closeh' resembles. Then, having removed 

 to some distance, it mav be noticed perched upon 

 one of the rolled pebbles which strew the beach in 

 great profusion. This manoeuvre may be followed 

 easily and closely b\- one conversant with the habits 

 of these birds, and is most marked, contrasting as it 

 does in so noticeable a manner with the habits of 

 the Lesser Tern. 



Likewise, inland, the habit of the Lapwing when 

 its nest is approached bv a person — even some 

 distance awa\', it ma\' be. from the actual where- 

 abouts of the nest — is totalK' dift'erent. For on first 

 obser\'ing the intruder it quietlv runs unseen lor 

 some little distance, then as quickly and stealthil) 

 takes wing, and, circling at first round and ri)und 

 the intruder, it repeatedh' tries to inveigle him 

 further and further awa\' from its nest b\" sweeping 

 backwards and forwards at a point and in a direction 

 as far as possible removed from the nest : and now , 

 appearing above the top of some hedge close by, it 

 undoubtedly endeavours, bv its anxious noise and 

 vigorous flights to and fro, to trv and deco\- the 

 eneni}" aw a\'. 



Not so, however, when nesting along the sea-coast, 

 for here it has undoubtedly habits similar to those of 

 its somewhat near relative, the Ringed Plover ; and, 

 instead of getting up some distance from the nest, it 

 runs along, remaining, like the Ringed Plo\'er, at a 

 distance amongst the shingle until the danger is past. 

 This, moreover, is easily accomplished amongst the 

 bushv grasses at the edge of which it nests. Though 

 several nests were found in the same locality under 

 similar conditions, no birds were seen. 



Somewhat exercised in mind as to how to account 

 for this evident change of habit of the Lapwing when 

 nesting on the sea-coast, as compared with its well- 

 known and curious behaviour w hen breeding inland, 

 and nesting on pasture or ploughed land, and not 

 know ing whether or not mv experience was unique, 

 upon my return to Shropshire, where I was then 

 living, I mentioned this interesting habit of the 

 Lapwing to Mr. H. E. Forrest, of Shrewsbury, who 

 was then, as now, particularly interested in the 

 fauna of North \\'ales (of which his recent work is 

 )ierhaps a summary). I was naturally surprised but 

 delighted to find that he was able to bear out my 

 experience, wIkii I related the circumstance to 



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