594 



used by Davenport and his interpretation of fancy points. The 

 need for a more strict definition of characters and their nomen- 

 clature is indicated. Colored plates and engravings are used to 

 assist in improving the terminology of canary fanciers. 



Protection of the Lapwing or Plover in Great Britain. The 



Journ. of the Board of Agriculture, Vol. XVI, No. 9. Decem- 

 ber 1909. 



" Representations were recently made to the Board of Agriculture 

 and Fisheries to the effect that a considerable diminution was 

 taking place in the number of lapwings in Great Britain, and in 

 view of the utility of this bird to agriculture, the Board have caused 

 an inquiry to be made into the subject through their honorary 

 correspondents. 



The Lapwing, Green Plover, or Peewit is a familiar bird in 

 most parts of Great Britain. It breeds in marshes, moors, and 

 meadows, and is seen in large flocks in the autumn and winter. 

 It is one of the most useful of British birds, as it devours snails, 

 wireworms, beetles, and the larvae of various insects that infest 

 crops, but, unlike most other wild birds, its increase is much re- 

 stricted by the demand for its eggs, which fetch a good price at 

 certain times of the year. 



The evidence which the Board were able to obtain shows, how- 

 ever, that the Lapwing is still common in most parts of Great 

 Britain, but 75 out of 177 observers, or 42,3 per cent., observed 

 a decrease. Out of 177 replies from practically all counties, 129 

 declared the bird to be common, while thirty-four considered it 

 uncommon, or not very plentiful in their districts. 



The question whether there had been an increase or a decrease 

 in their numbers naturally admitted of considerable difference of 

 opinion, but there was evidence that the numbers were decreasing 

 in many districts. The replies may be classified as follows: 



England Wales Scotland 



As regards the evidence of an increase, the changes in this 

 direction appear to be strictly local. In a number of cases a de- 



