CHARADRIIDHS — THE PLOVERS — VANELLUS. 
131 
greater coverts. Remiges dull black, the ends of the outer three primaries, for an inch or more, 
dull light cinereous, the shafts white. Rump like the back, but less metallic ; upper tail-coverts 
deep rufous. Basal half and top of the tail pure white ; subterminal portion dull black, this color 
decreasing in extent to the outer feathers, finally nearly or cpiite disappearing on the lateral pair. 
Lower parts in general pure white, becoming light rufous on the lower tail-coverts. Winter plu- 
mage : Similar, but with anterior half of lores, broad superciliary stripe, chin, and entire throat, 
white ; white of sides of nape and occiput more or less tinged with butf. Bill blackish ; iris 
brown ; legs and feet dull crimson or lake-red (brownish in winter). 
Downy young : Top and sides of the head, and entire upper parts, dull light brownish gray 
mottled with black, the shoulders tinged with light rusty, and the rump with large spots of deep 
black. Whole nape, chin, throat, and entire lower parts (except jugulum), white, the first tinged 
with light ashy ; jugulum nearly uniform dusky grayish (56885, Saxony). 
Wing, 8.50-9.00 ; tail, 4.00-4.25 ; culmen, 1.00 ; tarsus, 2.00 ; middle toe, 1.00-1.10. 
The well-known Lapwing of Europe is one of the most common and familiar of 
the birds of the western portions of that continent. Its occasional presence in Green- 
land and other parts of North America gives it a place among our rare and accidental 
visitants. It is common and indigenous to Ireland and the British Islands, and is 
abundant, in all suitable localities, as far as the most remote of the Shetland group. 
It is common in Denmark, and is equally abundant throughout Norway and Sweden; 
also occurring on the Faroe Islands and in Iceland, and being common throughout 
the Empire of Russia. It is found in less abundance in France, Spain, Italy, Egypt, 
and Asia Minor, and has been taken on the plains between the Black and the Cas- 
pian seas. Specimens have also been received from India and China ; and Tem- 
minck includes it among the birds of Japan. In some of its general habits the 
Lapwing appears to be similar to the Kildeer of our own country. It is known to 
many as the Lapwing, both from its peculiar slow flapping of the wings as it flies, 
and the singular manner in which it droops its wings, in affected lameness, when its 
nest is in danger. It is also called the Peewit, from its frequently repeated note, 
closely resembling the word po.e-weet. By the French this note is thought to resemble 
the word dix-huit, and the bird is known to them by this name. 
The habits of this species are those of a true Plover. It frequents marshy grounds 
or the margins of lakes and rivers, wild heaths, and open, uninclosed country. In 
such localities these birds are very common in Great Britain, and breed in large 
numbers. Their eggs are regarded as a luxury, and are much sought after in all the 
districts where this species is common. 
When its nest is disturbed, the female runs from the eggs and flies near the 
ground, but makes no noise. The males, however, are very clamorous, fly about the 
intruder, and endeavor by various instinctive manoeuvres to draw off his attention 
from their treasures. 
In some of the English counties all the most likely grounds are carefully searched 
once every day, in the season for eggs, by women and children, as well as by dogs 
trained for the purpose. Yarrell states that in 1839 two hundred dozen of these 
eggs were sent to the London market from Romney Marsh alone. 
The nests of the Lapwing, like those of the whole family of Plovers, are mere 
depressions in the ground, with a few dried bents lining the bottom. The number 
of eggs is four, and these have an average of 1.93 inches in length by 1.34 inches 
in breadth. Their color is dark olive, blotched and spotted with blackish brown. 
The young Lapwings, just hatched, are covered with a yellowish fawn-colored 
down spotted with brownish black, and there is a light-colored collar around the 
neck. They can run almost as soon as hatched, following the parent bird, who 
