BIRDS MET WITH BY THE WILDFOWLER 327 
LAPWING 
Vanellus cristatus (Wolf and Meyer) 
No wild bird has, perhaps, to pay so large a tribute in eggs 
and individuals to man, and yet remains as common and abun- 
dant, as the Lapwing. 
In early spring he appears on the marsh or water-meadows, 
where he or his parents before him have been accustomed to 
spend the summer ; sometimes dry fields at some distance from 
the water are chosen, but as a rule it is never far from a river, 
stream, or even a moderate-sized pond. Although many pairs 
often nest in the same field, fierce battles take place between 
the males for their chosen mates, but there is more ‘‘show” 
than strife, lengthy aerial chases with much calling out, but 
very little serious fighting. After these early differences have 
been overcome, the colony settles down in peace, a few ousted 
pairs being left to seek new ground. 
When the young are full grown, at about six weeks old, 
they collect in large flocks and wander over the country. In 
October and November enormous flocks come over from the 
Continent and settle often for three weeks or a month in a 
particular field, which is usually resorted to yearly by these 
birds. In winter they wander about in search of suitable food, 
but with the first warm days of February they return north, and 
March finds them back once more in their summer home. 
The male has the upper parts of a beautiful metallic green, 
the crown of the head and crest being almost black. Quills 
black, tipped with grey on the three outer pairs ; tail feathers 
white, with a broad subterminal band of black on all save the 
outer pair; breast black ; under tail-coverts chestnut; rest of 
under parts white. In summer the chin and throat are black. 
The female is duller in colour than the male ; the crest is rather 
shorter, and the outline of the extended wing is straighter. 
Length 12°5 in. ; wing 8°75 in. 
The young bird shows no black on throat ; crest also short. 
