rHAKADRIID.K — TIIK PLOVERS — VANELLUS. 131 



"reater coverts. Reuiiges dull black, the ends of the outer three primaries, for an inch or more, 

 dull light cinereous, the shafts white. Rump like the back, but less metallic ; upper tail-coverts 

 deep rufous. Basal half and top of the tail pure white ; subterminal portion dull black, this color 

 decreasing in extent to the outer feathers, fmally nearly or fpiite disappearing on the lateral pair. 

 Lower parts in general pure white, becoming light rufous on tlie lower tail-coverts. Winter plu- 

 mage : Similar, but with anterior half of lores, broad superciliary stripe, chin, and entire throat, 

 white ; white of sides of nape and occiput more or less tinged with butf. Bill blackish ; iris 

 brown ; legs and feet dull crimson or lake-red (brownish in winter). 



Downy youmj : Top and sides of the head, and entire upper parts, dull light brownish gray 

 mottled with black, the shoulders tinged with light rusty, and the rump with large .spots of deep 

 black. Whole nape, chin, throat, and entire lower parts (except jugulum), white, the first tinged 

 with light ashy ; jugulum nearly unifoi'in dusky grayish (.508So, Saxony). 



Wing, 8.5(M).(H) ; tail, 4.00-4.25 ; culmen, 1.00 ; tarsus, -2.00 ; middle toe, 1.00-1.10. 



The wcll-kuowii Lapwing of Europe is one of the most common and familiar of 

 the birds of the western porticnis of that continent. Its occasional presence in Cxreen- 

 land and. other parts of North America gives it a place among our rare and accidental 

 visitants. It is common and indigenous to Ireland and the British Islands, and is 

 abundant, in all suitable localities, as far as the most remote of the Shetland gronp. 

 It is common in Denmark, and is equally abundant throughout Xorway and Sweden ; 

 also occurrijig on the Faroe Islands and in Iceland, and being common throughout 

 the Empire of Enssia. It is found in less abundance in France, Spain, Italy, Egypt, 

 and Asia Minor, and has been taken on the jdains between the Black and the Cas- 

 pian seas. Specimens have also been received from India and China ; and Tem- 

 minck includes it among the bird.s of Japan. In some of its general habits the 

 Lapwing appears to be similar to the Kildeer of our own country. It is known to 

 many as the Lapwing, both from its peculiar slow flapping of the wings as it flies, 

 and the singular manner in which it droops its wings, in affected lameness, when its 

 nest is in danger. It is also called the Peewit, from its frequently repeated note, 

 closely resembling the word pee-wccf. By the French this note is thought to resemble 

 the word dix-huit, and the bird is known to them by this name. 



The habits of this species are those of a true Plover. It frequents marshy grounds 

 or the margins of lakes and rivers, wild heaths, and open, uninclosed country. In 

 such localities these birds are very common in Great Britain, and breed in large 

 numbers. Their eggs are regarded as a luxury, and are much sought after in all the 

 districts where this species is common. 



"When its nest is disturbed, the female runs from the eggs and flies near the 

 ground, but makes no noise. The males, however, are very clamorous-, fly about the 

 intruder, and endeavor by various instinctive manoeuATes to draw off liis attention 

 from their treasures. 



In some of the English counties all the most likely grounds are carefully searched 

 once every day, in the season for eggs, by women and children, as well as by dogs 

 trained for the purpose. Yarrell states that in 1839 two hundred dozen of these 

 eggs were sent to the London market from Romney Marsh alone. 



The nests of the Lapwing, like those of the whole family of Plovers, are mere 

 depressions in the ground, with a few dried bents lining the bottom. The number 

 of eggs is four, and these have an average of 1.93 inches in length by 1.34 inches 

 in breadth. Their color is dark olive, blotched and spotted with blackish brown. 



The young Lapwings, just hatched, are covered with a yellowish fawn-colored 

 down spotted with brownish black, and there is a light-colored collar around the 

 neck. They can run almost as soon as hatched, following the parent bird, who 



