304 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



straws. This latter habit persists throughout the period of 

 incubation, but is principally displayed by the male. Appa- 

 rently he does not attempt to sit on the eggs until the clutch 

 is complete and incubation commenced by the female, but im- 

 mediately thereafter he undertakes his full share of the duties. 



In a general review of the habits of the Lapwing in the pairing 

 season, the following would appear to be the salient points : — 



1. Some males (and females) are considerably earlier than 

 others in the initiation of pairing instincts (the earliest scrapes 

 being formed in February). 



2. Each male occupies a more or less definite area of ground, 

 in which he passes much of his time, and in which he forms a 

 variable number of "false nests." 



3. Aerial encounters between two males are of incessant 

 occurrence throughout the season, but these encounters appear to 

 lack seriousness, and frequently bear the impress rather of play. 



4. Ground struggles, where one bird persistently attempts to 

 drive a rival off disputed territory, are not uncommon, but are 

 less prominent than the last. 



5. There is some evidence to show that the females are 

 numerically inferior to the males. 



6. The male does not attempt to secure a mate by forcible 

 means. 



7. Other things equal, the male which is most active in 

 courtship is probably most likely to secure a mate. 



8. After courting a female, a male repairs to a previously- 

 formed scrape, and the first overt sign on the part of the female 

 of acceptance of her mate is indicated by her following the male 

 to the scrape and working in it. 



9. On a male having obtained a mate, no serious eflbrt is 

 made by unpaired males to forcibly deprive him. 



10. The female deposits her eggs in a scrape originally 

 formed by the male. 



On the evidence one may perhaps venture so far as to suggest 

 that the female has considerable scope for choice in the selection 

 of a mate. What directs her choice (supposing such to be em- 

 ployed) and what effect such discrimination may have on the 

 species are problems apparently insoluble by observation in the 

 field. 



