210 THE BIRDS OF SUSSEX. 



LAPWING. 



Vanellus vulgaris. 



This is a residentj and by no means uncommon, frequenting 

 the dry extensive heaths, the marshes, the roughest portions 

 of uncultivated land, as "well as the South Downs, in the 

 summer. In each of these localities the nest may be found 

 as early as the middle of April, always on the barest spots 

 of the heaths, or those covered with short grass among the 

 coarser herbage of the Downs. They occasionally breed on 

 the more extensive old tracts of beach out of the reach of 

 the sea, except in the heaviest gales, and almost destitute of 

 vegetation except a few scattered plants, such as Sea Cam- 

 pion and Thrift. 



They lay their eggs among the pebbles, and here the nest, 

 in all situations very slight, has only the addition of a few 

 stalks of those plants. I have found the nest, on one 

 occasion, between Shoreham and Worthing ; and Mr. Dennis 

 states that they breed on the beach eastward of Rye Har- 

 bour, in a similar locality. 



The Lapwing is particularly cunning in its attempts to 

 lead away any intruder on its eggs or young : fluttering on 

 the ground, or flying round with heavily flapping wings, and 

 occasionally tumbling as if shot. 



In the latter part of September, or beginning of October, 

 they collect in flocks, often of several hundred, flying from 

 place to place in loose order. At this time they especially 

 afi'ect the fields of rape or turnips, feeding on the black cater- 

 pillars known to farmers as "niggers," thus ridding the 

 crops of this most destructive pest. They feed also on 

 earthworms, slugs, and insects. Both the eggs and the birds 

 are in high demand for the table, though the flesh is not so 



