1 The nest is slight hollow scratched in the ground." 



THE LAPWING, OR PEEWIT 



E\V birds are more useful 

 to the farmer, or of greater 

 interest to the naturalist, 

 than the Lapwing, and yet 

 it is persecuted beyond all 

 reason. In the spring its 

 eggs are persistently gath- 

 ered and sold as breakfast- 

 table delicacies, and in the winter it is 

 shot and netted for the miserable price 

 its body will fetch in the poulterer's 

 shop. In many parts of the country 

 its numbers are gradually, yet surely, 

 decreasing, to the regret of the agri- 

 culturist, who greatly appreciates its 

 services in clearing his land of slugs 

 and all kinds of noxious insects. If 

 early clutches were taken and a close 

 time instituted, as is now the case in 

 some Continental countries, the species 

 would be allowed a chance of maintain- 

 ing its position in point of numbers, but 

 such persistent collecting goes on in 

 some parts of the country that by the 

 middle of June the old birds have 

 given ip all hope of rearing a brood 

 and commenced to flock. Many people 



think when they see large flocks on 

 flooded meadows in the winter that the 

 species cannot be diminishing in numbers, 

 but they forget that these flocks are 

 largely composed of Continental mi- 

 grants. 



The Lapwing, or Green Plover, as it 

 is frequently called, breeds in nearly 

 all suitable localities, and the love- 

 making notes, drumming flight, and 

 aerial antics of the male are most in- 

 teresting harbingers of spring. The 

 nest is a slight hollow scratched in the 

 ground and lined with a few dead grass 

 straws, or bits of rushes. In nearly all 

 cases the eggs number four, although 

 late in the season a bird may frequently 

 be found sitting upon three. Very 

 rarely a clutch of five may be met with, 

 and upon two occasions I have found a 

 small stone bearing every evidence of hav- 

 ing been added to a clutch of three eggs. 



Young Lapwings run directly they 

 leave the egg shells, and if any form of 

 danger should appear they instantly 

 crouch flat upon the ground, and remain 

 absolutely still until a reassuring cry 



3' 



