156 GAME BIRDS AND WILD FOWL. 



Time during which the Sociable Lapwing may be 



taken.^ August ist to March ist. 



Habits.— The habits of the Sociable Lapwing during its 

 summer sojourn on the steppes of Central Asia are most imperfectly 

 known ; but of its life history during its winter residence in India 

 we are fortunately much better acquainted, thanks to the observa- 

 tions of Hume, Irby, and others. It is said to be a dweller on the 

 sand plains, especially common in Oudh and Kumaon, and is 

 always observed either in parties or large flocks. Hume states 

 that in Scinde its favourite haunts are waste uplands near to 

 cultivation. It is by no means a shy bird, being very fearless 

 until repeatedly fired at. On the ground, Irby remarks that it 

 looks very similar to a Golden Plover, but on the wing it resembles 

 more closely allied birds, and flies close to the ground unlike the 

 typical species of Charadrius. Its food is said to be of an 

 insectivorous nature — grasshoppers, locusts, spiders, beetles, and 

 larvae. Its note is described as a peculiar cry which is not uttered 

 very frequently. 



Nidification. — Nothing apparently is known of the habits of 

 the Sociable Lapwing during the breeding season. Mr. Dresser 

 writes (B. of Europe, vii. p. 527) : "A single egg sent to me by 

 Mr. Moschler, who informs me that it was obtained by his Sarepta 

 collector, with the birds, closely resembles eggs of the Common 

 Lapwing ( Vanelhis cristatus), but is, if anything, rather paler in 

 ground colour, and a trifle more sparingly marked with spots and 

 blotches." 



Diagnostic Characters. — Vanellus, with the shortest 

 primaries black, except the inner web, which is white or margined 

 with white. Length, 13 to 14 inches. 



