CRESTED LAPWING. lo5 



GRALLATORES. CHAR ADR IIDM. 



PLATE CCXVIL 



CRESTED LAPWING. 



VANELLUS CRESTATUS. 



The Crested Lapwing or Peewit is known all over Bri- 

 tain, and is indigenous with us ; it is a very interesting- 

 species, and not only considered good for the table in itself, 

 but its eggs are so generally admired as a dainty relish, 

 that the traffic in them is a great source of support to 

 many country folks, and profitable to the shopkeepers of 

 most towns. The plumage of this bird is besides exceed- 

 ingly beautiful, and may challenge that of most other 

 species. 



The geographical distribution of the Crested Lapwing 

 extends over Europe, Asia, and Africa ; in Europe and 

 Asia it is not only plentiful but in some parts very nu- 

 merous ; it inhabits Siberia, Persia, and China, Egypt 

 and Nubia : and in Europe extends from the southern 

 parts of Iceland to the Mediterranean, although its num- 

 bers are small in Norway and Sweden. In Great Britain, 

 Denmark, Prussia, Germany, and Holland it is remarka- 

 bly plentiful, especially in the latter country, owing to the 

 marshy nature of the land. 



