278 REPORT— 1902. 



emigrate southwards and westwards, and others cross the Channel to 

 the shores of France. 



In addition, many minor or local movements, due to varying weather 

 influences, are performed in both autumn and winter in all parts of our 

 islands resorted to by this bird. Indeed, almost every change in the 

 weather results in some shifting of quarters at these seasons. 



Our native Lapwings are widely distributed and extremely numerous, 

 and there can be little doubt that they form the great majority of the 

 individuals which participate in the many and various migratory move- 

 ments undertaken by this species at different seasons both within and on 

 our shores. 



Except the winter movements, when forced and sometimes general 

 retreats have to be undertaken, the migrations of the Lapwing are very 

 gradually performed and cover an extended period in each season, but no 

 general flights simultaneously performed on all or any section of our 

 coasts have been recorded. 



British Summer and Autumn Movements. — At the close of the nesting 

 season Lapwings, old and young, gather together and form flocks. As 

 early as mid-June or during July small parties, even flocks, sometimes 

 appear in the vicinity of the coast, and occasionally a few are recorded as 

 visiting the islands, or as appearing at the rock-stations and lightships off 

 the east and west coasts of Britain. Such movements are not without 

 interest, but as a rule it can scarcely be claimed for them that they 

 possess any direct bearing upon the ordinary migrations of the bird. 

 During some seasons, however, movements southward have been recorded 

 in July ; ' but these must be regarded as exceptional, and probably due to 

 the disturbing influence of local meteorological conditions. 



In August emigration from Shetland commences, and the majority of 

 the birds leave during the month. The records of Lapwings at the coast 

 stations and at the off-lying lighthouses and lightships - are numerous 

 though uncertain, and indicate that movements or wanderings are in 

 progress. 



In September the migration southwards sets in in earnest. Early in 

 the month those which have summered in Shetland, Orkney, and the 

 Hebrides continue or begin to emigrate, and by the middle of the month 

 or before, all, save a few stragglers, have departed from the northern group. 

 Many, too, quit the higher ground on the mainland, especially in Scotland. 

 These decided emigrations result in passage movements southwards or 

 towards the shore which are chiefly in evidence on both the coasts of 

 Scotland and that of the North of England. 



During October the autumnal movements of the Lapwing reach their 

 maximum. The higher breeding-grounds are then entirely deserted for 

 the cold season, and much emigration is also in progress from the northern 

 and other inland districts and from the Hebrides to accustomed winter 

 quarters, such as lowlands in the vicinity of the coast — especially near 



' The chief of these was observed at the Leman and Ower Lightship (twenty-five 

 miles N.E. of Cromer) on July 30, 1887. when, during unsettled weather, a great 

 flock passed southwards at 3 p.m. On July 2, 1901, after a strong N.E. wind and 

 dirty weather, Mr. S. Southwell saw on a Lowestoft trawler two which had been 

 captured out of a large flock about forty miles N.E. of that port. 



- At the Seven Stones Lightship (seven miles off the Land's End) on August 26, 

 1880, about fifty Lapwings were observed flying south-west in the direction of the 

 Seilly Isles at 10 a.m. 



