BIRDS FOUND ON OUR SOUTHERN MANORS. 41 



presence of a hind toe, which, though small, is distinctly to 

 be seen. It is not so common as the golden plover, but in 

 its habits and in the same remarkable change of plumage, 

 it closely resembles that bird. The adult grey plover, in 

 its summer plumage, has a black beak ; iris very dark brown ; 

 forehead and top of the head white, the latter being slightly 

 speckled with black; nape of the neck dusky grey mixed 

 with white; upper parts all black and white, the base of 

 each feather being black, and the end white ; wing primaries 

 greyish black ; shafts white ; tail feathers white, transversely 

 barred with greyish black; under parts black, except the 

 vent and under tail coverts, which are white; legs, toes, and 

 claws black; length nearly twelve inches. In winter, the 

 plumage of the upper parts is dusky grey, each feather 

 being edged with dull white; throat, breast, and sides 

 lighter than the back, the feathers being but slightly 

 streaked with grey; belly, vent, and under tail coverts 

 dull white, with some few marks only. Like the golden 

 plover, in the spring and autumn these birds may be met 

 with exhibiting any combination of the above markings, 

 according to the period of the change of feather in which 

 they are taken. The summer plumage is generally com- 

 pleted in May. The eggs are oil green, spotted irregularly 

 with umber brown in various shades, which are most nume- 

 rous at the broad end. 



The PEEWIT or LAPWING (Vanellus cristatus) is ex- 

 ceedingly common on almost all open partridge ground, but 

 prefers marshy land, though it is not seldom met with upon 

 gravelly soils, if they are undrained. The name "Peewit" 

 is given to it from the resemblance of the note to that word; 

 and it is called " Lapwing" in consequence of the peculiar 

 slow flapping of its wings in flying. Its eggs are, however, 

 so much sought after for the table, under the name of 

 " plover's eggs," and so many of its haunts are now drained 

 and enclosed, that it is every year becoming more rare. In 

 summer the beak is black; iris hazel; upper part of the 

 head black, ending in a tuft of elongated feathers, slightly 

 curving upwards, which are capable of being elevated at 

 pleasure ; cheeks and sides of the neck white, speckled with 

 black; an oblique streak of black below the eye; upper parts 



