OF THE BEITISH ISLANDS. 163 



Allied forms. — None of sufficient propinquity to require notice. 



Habits. — The Lapwing is by far the best known and most widely distributed 

 of the Ployers frequenting the British Islands. It is a resident, but changes its 

 ground a good deal with the season, and in autumn its numbers are largely 

 increased by the arrival of migrants from Continental Europe. The haunts of the 

 Lap-wing are rough, unenclosed lands, moors, pastures and fallows, commons and 

 heaths, marshes, broads, and saltings. At all seasons it is a shy, wary species, 

 but becomes much tamer than usual during the nesting season, when its great 

 solicitude for its young causes it to suspend its habitual caution. The most 

 characteristic feature of the Lapwing is its singularly erratic and prolonged 

 flight. The wings are broad and rounded, and move in a slow, deliberate, and 

 regular manner. I cannot express this bird's movements more aptly now than I 

 did eighteen years ago in my Bural Bird Life. The moment an intruder appears 

 in their haunts the watchful Lapwings rise one by one, and with ever flapping 

 pinions begin to sail about high overhead. Now the birds soar seemingly 

 without effort, then on flapping wings they wheel round and round. Anon they 

 dart rapidly down, as if hurling themselves to the ground, and then, mounting 

 the air again with easy grace, they fly in ever-changing course, darting, wheeling, 

 tumbling, and reeling, as though beating time with their pinions to their wailing 

 and expressive cries. As the cause of their alarm retreats the birds soon settle 

 again, each bird generally keeping its long wings expanded and elevated for a 

 moment before gracefully folding them. The Lapwing both runs and walks 

 well, but it rarely wades. All through the year the Lapwing is to a certain 

 extent gregarious, and usually breeds in more or less scattered colonies. In 

 winter, however, its gatherings are the largest, and during this season immense 

 flocks may often be seen retreating before a coming storm, or shifting their 

 ground from one district to another from a variety of causes. This bird is also 

 very nocturnal, even in summer, and all night long its peculiar notes may be 

 heard in its haunts. It often becomes particularly noisy and active just after 

 dusk. Flocks of flying Lapwings usually pass through the air in a scattered 

 throng, but as a rule the advance guard present a very even line. The note of 

 this Plover is a peculiar mewing or nasal pee-weet, variously modulated into 

 weet-a-weet pee-weet-weet ; whilst during the pairing season the male still further 

 modulates this note into several distinct cries. In autumn the Lapwing becomes 

 more gregarious, and most of the sunomer stations on high exposed ground are 

 deserted for the winter. The bird then often becomes remarkably numerous in 

 littoral districts, on the wild saltings and rough marshes where an abundant 

 supply of food can be obtained in almost all weathers. Great numbers of these 

 Plovers are killed at this season for the table, but they do not command either 

 the higher price or the ready sale of the Golden Plover, and their flesh is not only 

 dark but often accompanied by an unpleasant taste. Shot during early autumn. 



