238 CHABADBIID.E 



however, be inspected at a short distance, otherwise it might 

 pass un- noticed as it stands motionless on the dark fallowed 

 soil, for much of its white flanks and breast is obscured by 

 the large over-lapping wings. But the instant a Lapwing 

 rises its magpie-like plumage becomes noticeable, while the 

 expansive rounded wings, 1 napping up and down with steady 

 beat, are unmistakable. 



Flight. The quiet and slow flight of this species offers 

 an interesting contrast to the swift movements of most 

 shore-birds, as they cleave the air. In autumn and winter 

 Lapwings congregate into great flocks, and when on the 

 wing with Golden Plover or other swift-flying ' waders,' 

 imitate the movements of the latter. I have seen Lapwings 

 increase their speed very considerably at times, and their 

 powers of twisting and turning sharply on the wing often 

 save them from the clutch of the Peregrine Falcon ; the 

 terror which they show at the sight of the latter is intense. 

 Possessed of remarkable powers of endurance on the wing, 

 they may be seen rising to an immense height and then 

 circling about for hours before coming to rest. 



This species, though strong on the wing, is not hardy in 

 other respects, and is easily overcome by stress of weather ; 

 in severe frost and snow 1 have noticed it very tame, often 

 frequenting lawns and grass-plots of dwelling-houses. 



Food. This bird partakes of a mixed diet. When 

 feeding inland, it eats worms, insects, seeds, and sometimes 

 berries, while crabs, small shell-fish, and fragments of 

 seaweed, are consumed along the sea-shore. 



Mr. J. E. Harting examined the stomachs of many 

 Lapwings, and proved that those which had frequented 

 grass-land upon a sandy soil, fed chiefly upon small beetles, 

 which were mixed with minute particles of grit : the 

 stomachs obtained on down-land upon a chalky soil con- 

 tained fragments of snails (Helix virgata and H. caper ata). 



Voice. The name of Peewit has been appropriately 

 given to this Plover on account of its voice. 



1 In the ' Ibis,' 1904, pp. 446-451, Mr. F. W. Frohawk contributes an 

 interesting paper on * Sexual variation in the wing of the Lapwing.' In 

 the male the primaries are long and broad and give a curved outline, 

 while the secondaries, being considerably shorter, add greatly to the 

 rounded appearance of the expanded wing. In the female the margin of 

 the expanded wing forms a continuous line ; the primaries are pro- 

 portionately shorter and in flight the wings appear narrower and less 

 rounded. 



