550 



6 



but it abounded in the plains of the Euphrates valley, near Basrah, in December. De Filippi 

 met with some at Sultaniah, a high plain south of Tabriz, in July. To this Major St. John 

 adds that it breeds in the marshes about Asupas, north of Shiraz, and is common everywhere in 

 Persia in the winter. Dr. Jerdon states that it is found in India only in the Punjab, where it 

 breeds ; but Mr. A. O. Hume expresses great doubt as to its ever having bred in the Punjab. 

 Dr. Henderson obtained specimens between Kargallik and the city of Yarkand, and says that it 

 seemed very abundant in all marshy places throughout the plains of Yarkand. Severtzoff states 

 that it breeds throughout Turkestan at an altitude of from 8500 to 10,500 feet, and occurs in the 

 north and south-western parts during winter, when, however, it is rare. It is found in Siberia, 

 and is stated by Dr. Dybowski to be numerous at Darasun in Dauria. Mr. Maack frequently met 

 with it in the Uda and Ingoda valleys, in Transbaikalia, in April, and obtained a specimen from 

 the mouth of the Ssungari river, on the Southern Amoor. Dr. Eadde met with it once on the 

 Central Amoor, just above the Bureja Mountains, but at the Tarei-nor it appeared in numbers 

 late in March, and remained to breed. Westward, on the shores of Lake Baikal, it is rare, as 

 the locality is unfavourable ; but still further west, on the Tunka plain, it is numerous. It is 

 also met with in China; and Mr. Svvinhoe says that it wanders down as far south as Canton, 

 Swatow, and into Formosa in winter. According to Pere David it breeds in Mongolia, but is 

 rare at Pekin and Takow, even during migration. Temminck and Schlegel record it from 

 Japan, where it is, they say, common enough in many parts. It does not occur in the Nearctic 

 Region. 



The Lapwing is essentially a bird of the lowlands and plains, being but seldom met with in 

 elevated ground. It affects either wet, swampy localities or grassy places, avoiding the sea-coast, 

 unless in the immediate vicinity of its favourite haunts, and it does not visit the woodlands. Shy 

 and extremely cautious, it is extremely difficult of approach ; and when flocks are feeding in the 

 autumn on the ploughed lands and in the fields, there are always some few individuals scattered 

 outside of the main flock, who give the alarm should any intruder approach ; and the entire flock 

 take flight at the first signal of alarm, and are soon out of danger. One of the first of the spring 

 visitants that make their appearance after the winter has passed, it is everywhere hailed as a 

 harbinger of spring, as the Swallow is of the summer. It arrives in the spring either in small 

 scattered flocks or by twos and threes, not in large flocks like those which leave us in the autumn. 

 Very shortly after arrival they commence breeding ; and eggs are often found in the latter part of 

 March in favourable seasons, though early in April appears to be the usual time when the eggs 

 are deposited. The nest is situated either in a damp locality in the moors, or else in cultivated 

 ground, usually away from frequented localities, as the bird is very jealous of intrusion; and 

 as it is eminently sociable during the breeding-season as well as in the winter, one frequently 

 finds several pairs breeding tolerably close together. The nest is merely a hollow scratched in 

 the soil by the bird, worked into a cup-shape, and sometimes without any interior lining what- 

 ever, whereas at others the nest is found either slightly or tolerably well lined with leaves and 

 fine rootlets. The number of eggs deposited is always four; should these be taken away the 

 female again lays four, and if robbed a second time lays three, then two, and then discontinues 

 laying. The eggs being looked on as a great dainty, and having being for long an article of 

 trade, vast numbers are brought to the markets for sale. I tried to arrive at an approximate 



