114 
CHARADRIID^. 
noon. Lurgan Green, on the coast of Louth, was formerly (until 
drained) a favourite haunt of these birds. 
In the autumn and winter, lapwings, collected into flocks, fre- 
quent extensive low-lying marshes, flooded meadows,^ rivers such 
as the Lagant near Belfast, and estuaries of a similar character to 
the bay here, where extensive soft and oozy banks are exposed at 
the fall of every tide. In such localities they remain until the 
breeding season commences. Their numbers vary considerably 
in different seasons. In the autumns and winters of 1836-37, and 
1837-38, they were considered particularly abundant in Belfast bay, 
flocks of 150 being seen. Subsequently they became much more 
numerous. Twice the number, just mentioned, were observed 
together in January and Bebruary, 1845. On the 17th of the 
latter month I was much interested by observing the variety of 
form assumed by a flock, consisting of about 300 birds, on wing 
above the bay. They would sometimes appear in a line, then 
in a circle, again in a diamond or lozenge form, and every inter- 
mediate shape ; while occasionally they rose and fell in the air, 
as if about to alight, but wanting in resolution to do so. 
Eventually they alighted. The snowy-white plumage of the 
under surface of their bodies is seen with brilliant effect in the 
course of their wheeling flight : that of each individual of the 
flock being exhibited at the same instant. Every motion of the lap- 
wing is rather slow the reverse of the rapid shooting flight of 
the dunlin, redshank, knot, &c. which may be perceived at the 
same moment, and which it is so beautiful to witness. All the lap- 
wings are said to leave the bay in the evening for inland quarters. 
By moonlight, however, a few may be seen occasionally feeding 
there. They likewise retire inland during the day, when driven 
* These seem to be the most delectable of all feeding grounds, as I have invariably 
remarked lapwings to leave haunts of every description for them. 
t A friend who resided many years on the banks of the Lagan, remarked, that lap- 
wings came regularly in September in flocks of from forty to fifty birds, and remained 
until about the commencement of the breeding season. Toward the end of January, 
and not untd then, they frequented pasture-fields in the vicinity of the river. 
