48 

 Vanellus cristatus. 



Feeivit. 



LOCAL NAMES. EGG OBSERVED. 



Lapmiig April 20tli, 1865 (hard set). 



Common Plover April 27tli, 1866 (young birds). 



April 13th, 1867. 



March 28th, 1868. 



April 14th, 1869. 

 1870. 



This handsome species is abundant on all our open 

 downs, where they breed. 



Though a few of them remain with us all the year round, 

 the greater part leave us during the winter, returning 

 about the end of February or the beginning of March. 

 Those few, which remain, leave the downs for the water- 

 meadows. 



This bird is a very early breeder with us ; it is but seldom 

 a fresh egg can be found after the beginning of April. The 

 egg itself is very pointed at one end, exhibiting one of the 

 most singular instances of instinct, for the bird always 

 arranges its four eggs with the small ends inwards, point- 

 ing towards a common centre, thus taking up but very 

 little room and preventing the eggs from rolling out of the 

 very slight hollow in which they are laid. 



The apparent audacity of the Peewit, in defence of its 

 young is something marvellous, it aj^pears to hurl itself at 

 you and make severe attacks one after the other. 



