LAPWING. 129 
Famiry CHARADRIIDZA. 
LAPWING. 
VANELLUS VULGARIS, Bechst. 
Pl. XTX., figs. 4-6. 
Geogr. distr.—In summer the northern and central portions of the 
Palearctic region, migrating to N. Africa at the approach of winter ; 
eastward as far as Japan: in Great Britain it is common and resident. 
Food.—Insects in various stages, Mollusca and Crustacea. 
Nest.—A mere cup-shaped hollow scratched in the earth. 
Position of nest.—In damp places on moors or saltings, or unfre- 
quented places in old fallow land. 
Number of eggs.—4; perhaps rarely 5. 
Time of nidification.—V-V1; June. 
The eggs are placed in the nest with the points all 
together in the centre. The nest is difficult to find, as it is 
a mere hollow in the grass or earth, containing (to the 
casual observer) three large mottled stones. The bird also 
does its utmost to distract one’s attention, wheeling round 
and incessantly uttering its plaintive note (which has 
earned it the popular name of ‘“‘ Pee-weet’’), and even 
feigning to be maimed in order to try and draw one from 
the neighbourhood of the nest. 
I have a nest obtained in Sheppy in May, 1885; the 
hollow is rather triangular than circular, measuring three 
and a half inches in front and four in longitudinal diameter ; 
its depth in the centre is nearly two inches; it contains 
three eggs. 
The eggs of this species, being considered a great deli- 
cacy, are daily sought for by old men, women, and children, 
who either sell them on the spot for two shillings a dozen, 
or send them up to the London market, where they fetch 
more than double that price; many other eggs are, 
however, disposed of as Lapwing’s eggs, and, amongst 
those offered for sale, I have seen not only those of Gulls 
and Terns, but even eggs of the Moorhen. 
In seeking for the eggs, little notice is taken of the 
male bird, which flies overhead trying to distract attention, 
whilst the hen bird runs from the nest for a short distance, 
and then rises quietly, still, however, keeping tolerably 
near to the ground; if, therefore, the spot where the hen 
begins to run is carefully noted, there is every likelihood 
of finding the nest. 
K 
