1 14 CHARADRIID^S. 



noon. Lurgan Green, on the coast of Louth, was formerly (until 

 drained) a favourite haunt of these birds. 



In the autumn and winter, lapwings, collected into flocks, fre- 

 quent extensive low-lying marshes, flooded meadows,* rivers such 

 as the Lagant near Belfast, and estuaries of a similar character to 

 the bay here, where extensive soft and oozy banks are exposed at 

 the fall of every tide. In such localities they remain until the 

 breeding season commences. Their numbers vary considerably 

 in different seasons. In the autumns and winters of 1836-37, and 

 1837-38, they were considered particularly abundant in Belfast bay, 

 flocks of 150 being seen. Subsequently they became much more 

 numerous. Twice the number, just mentioned, were observed 

 together in January and February, 1845. On the 17th of the 

 latter month I was much interested by observing the variety of 

 form assumed by a flock, consisting of about 300 birds, on wing 

 above the bay. They would sometimes appear in a line, then 

 in a circle, again in a diamond or lozenge form, and every inter- 

 mediate shape ; while occasionally they rose and fell in the air, 

 as if about to alight, but wanting in resolution to do so. 

 Eventually they alighted. The snowy- white plumage of the 

 under surface of their bodies is seen with brilliant effect in the 

 course of their wheeling flight : that of each individual of the 

 flock being exhibited at the same instant. Every motion of the lap- 

 wing is rather slow ; — the reverse of the rapid shooting flight of 

 the dunlin, redshank, knot, &c. which may be perceived at the 

 same moment, and winch it is so beautiful to witness. All the lap- 

 wings are said to leave the bay in the evening for inland quarters. 

 By moonlight, however, a few may be seen occasionally feeding 

 there. They likewise retire inland during the day, when driven 



* These seem to be the most delectable of all feeding grounds, as I have invariably 

 remarked lapwings to leave haunts of every description for them. 



f A friend who resided many years on the banks of the Lagan, remarked, that lap- 

 wings came regularly in September in flocks of from forty to fifty birds, and remained 

 until about the commencement of the breeding season. Towards the end of January, 

 and not until then, they frequented pasture-fields in the vicinity of the river. 



