CHARADRIIFOEMES. 377 



vlunalis). The commonest species is the Lapwing [Vanellus 

 mlgaris). 



The Lapwing is also called the Peewit or Green Plover. It 

 is generally distributed throughout Great Britain, and is, as a 

 rule, resident ; but migrations take place from the north to the 

 south in very cold winters. ISTumbers also arrive from the 

 Continent in the autumn. The lapwing is partial to marshy 

 lands and moorlands, and may also be seen feeding in numbers 

 on mud-flats. The curious curved crest of feathers on the head 

 at once identifies it. Head, crest, and breast are glossy black ; 

 throat, neck, and abdomen white ; the back dark - green and 

 metallic ; tail black and white ; legs and feet orange-red ; bill 

 dull reddish-brown. The female does not differ much from the 

 male, but the young birds have the dorsal feathers edged with 

 buff and the crest shorter. The nest is formed in a depression 

 in the ground, especially in pasture and fallow lands ; a few 

 pieces of grass and stalks are added during incubation. The 

 eggs are laid from the end of March to June, the majority in 

 April Four or five are laid in each nest ; they are olive-green 

 with dark-brown blotches, but may have a grey or even blue 

 ground-colour. The female when disturbed runs rapidly away 

 from her nest, the male at the same time rising and twirling 

 about in the air, uttering its shrUl note to allure the enemy 

 from the nest and young. Like most birds in this group, the 

 eggs are laid crosswise. In winter the peewits collect together 

 in flocks and sometimes fly great distances in lines. Migration 

 in this country is chiefly after food. The eggs are much sought 

 after for the table in spite of the Wild Birds Protection Act, 

 and yet this is one of our most useful birds. Their food consists 

 of wireworms and all manner of larvse and insects, also worms. 

 The large flocks — for they are gregarious even in the breeding 

 season — must tend largely to the destruction of many noxious 

 farm pests. 



The Scolopacidai include the Woodcock and various Snipe, the 

 EufF, Sandpipers, and Curlews, &c. They are all provided with 



