226 THE GOD WIT. 



to be a punctual attendant of autumn in the sister 

 kingdom. The plumage changes from the rufous of 

 the summer tin tings, to the grey of the winter hues. 

 Sir W. Jardine relates, that " he has never missed 

 parties of them in the end of August and in Septem- 

 ber, mingling with others of the Totani and Tringce 

 which are considered of less common occurrence on 

 the border." He is speaking of the river Merse (at 

 Skinburnness), and banks of the Wimpoole on the 

 Sol way. He also mentions the "low shores between 

 Holy Island and the Northumbrian coast," as a fre- 

 quent locality for these birds. Their habits are 

 greatly similar to those of the black- tailed species. 

 The general range of the bird is not considered so 

 extensive as the last-mentioned variety, being chiefly 

 confined to some portions of Europe not so far north, 

 a few frequenting portions of India and its islands. 

 It has a larger bill, with longer legs, than the black- 

 tailed species. For the rest, its manner of raising 

 food, breeding, &c., is the same as that of the black 

 godwit. 



The Common Lapwing (Vanellus cristatus ; Tringa 

 vanellus, Linn.). The common Green or Crested 

 Lapwing of British authors (provincial). Bastard 

 Plover. This may be termed the head of the plover 

 family, and is the most noble in appearance; its 

 brightly varied and pencilled plumage, and its inte- 

 resting habits, combining to make it a great favourite 

 with every ornithologist. This bird breeds inland; 

 but, as may be seen from the structure of its feet, 



