LAPWINGS IN THE PAIRING SEASON. 297 



later, this phenomenon may continue, more especially in the 

 event of cold or stormy weather. 



In the early days after the arrival on the nesting ground 

 signs of dawning sexual instincts amongst the flocked birds are 

 evinced by a slight increase of jealousy on the part of the males, 

 which tend to make sudden unprovoked attacks on each other, 

 which attacks, however, are only momentary and of slight 

 extent. Soon a few males separate entirely from their com- 

 panions, and take up certain more or less definite positions in 

 the field, showing considerable jealousy of any trespass on the 

 part of their neighbours. Here they spend a large part of the 

 day, occupying themselves in the formation of scrapes, in aerial 

 combats with other males, or in courting any female bird which 

 may happen to settle not too far off, while at intervals they 

 indulge in prolonged song-flights, ranging over a wider area. 

 The limits of the ground claimed by each male are, however, of 

 very vague definition, and appear to be modified with the 

 advance of the season, or with the little group of scrapes with 

 which the male interests himself, since a group formed in the 

 earlier days may be deserted later in favour of a fresh set at 

 some distance. While present during a considerable portion of 

 the day in his especial " estate," the bird does not by any means 

 confine himself entirely thereto, being sometimes absent for hours, 

 during which he may resort to neighbouring fields in search of 

 food, or to some pond or watercourse in which to bathe. 



A feature of early March is the high proportion of males to 

 females present, a discrepancy largely due to the fact of the 

 weaker attachment of the females at that season to the nesting 

 grounds. When present, also, the females, owing to their more 

 retiring and less active habits, are much less in evidence than 

 the other sex. Nevertheless, there is reason to believe that the 

 large numerical difference between the sexes is not merely 

 apparent, and that the males are actually somewhat in excess. 



Spring Flight. — Eising slowly from the ground the male 

 executes a few laboured flaps, moving the wings with exaggerated 

 slowness — owl-like ; thence he quickens his pace, and, rising 

 suddenly at an abrupt angle, commences the song, the greater 

 part of which, however, is emitted as the bird falls again. 

 During the utterance of the song, in a pause occurring after the 

 ZnoL 4th ser. vol. XV.. August, 1911. 2 A 



