214 TEXT-BOOK OF ZOOLOGY 



Family 4: Plovers (Charadriidae) . 



The Peewit, or Lapwing (Vanellus cristatus). 



(Length 13 inches.) 



With the disappearance of the last remains of the snow, the familiar 

 " pee-wit, pee-wit " (hence the popular name of the bird) of the lapwing 

 is heard in our meadows, and the birds career over the reawakening earth 

 in all kinds of wonderful evolutions. The lapwing is a handsome bird : 

 its upper surface is resplendent in greenish and purple metallic tints, 

 while the black colour of the throat is in beautiful contrast against 

 the white of the neck and under surface ; the head bears an erectile 

 tuft of feathers. The food of the bird consists of worms, insects and 

 their larvae, which it seeks while rapidly running along the ground. By 

 its steps, which follow each other in rapid succession, it frightens the 

 worms out of their holes ; these are forthwith seized in its short beak and 

 consumed. The nest, which displays little or no workmanship, is con- 

 structed out of a few stalks of straw on the higher parts of the ground 

 (as a protection against floods). (The young are " precocious.") It lays 

 four eggs, which are pear-shaped, and by their colour, which resembles 

 that of the ground (green, with brown and black spots), are protected 

 against nest-plunderers ; while the birds themselves will pluckily defend 

 the nest against human despoilers, the eggs being much sought after on 

 account of their delicate flavour. 



Family 5: Bustards (Otididae). 



The Great Bustard (Otis tarda). 



(Height 30 inches.) 



In its structure and mode of life this member of the " wader " order 

 displays certain resemblances to the gallinaceous birds. It inhabits 

 unfrequented, fertile, and level districts throughout the whole of Europe 

 and Central Asia. The plumage is brownish above, sprinkled with 

 numerous black spots and dots ; the head, neck, and under surface are 

 lighter coloured. (Compare with partridge.) The throat of the male is 

 provided with a beard of long, loose-barbed feathers. The wings are 

 short and rounded off (compare with domestic fowl), rendering this 

 handsome bird but a very indifferent flier. Its deficiency in this 

 respect is, however, amply counterbalanced by its speed in running, a 

 dog being able only with difficulty to overtake the bird. For this faculty 

 it is equipped with long, strong legs, which are furnished with strong toes 



