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Allen’s naturalist’s library. 
taking of its eggs in large numbers, the species in some parts 
of Scotland is on the increase. 
Range outside the British Islands. — The Lapwing is found 
throughout the whole of Europe and Northern Asia, nesting 
even in the Mediterranean countries. In Europe it breeds 
as far as the Arctic Circle, and in Asia up to 65° N. lat. In 
winter it extends to Northern Africa, North-western India, and 
Southern China. 
Habits. — In the open and marshy countries which this species 
loves to frequent the musical note of the Peewit is a distinctive 
feature. It is also to be heard on the moors and pasture-lands, 
especially on the fallow ground. Although this Plover is to be 
seen at all times of the day, it becomes much more active 
towards evening, and feeds a great deal during the night. 
Throughout the summer it is a faithful friend to the farmer, 
and devours large numbers of grubs, slugs, &c. It is, there- 
fore, a most useful bird to keep in a garden, wliere its useful- 
ness and beauty greatly commend themselves, but it is said 
that the Peewit is an irresistible attraction to any prowling 
cat. In the winter the flocks of Peewits betake themselves to 
the sea-shore, where they feed on marine insects and small 
molluscs, and it is a beautiful sight to see a large flock of these 
birds winging their way seawards as evening approaches. They 
often go through some aerial evolutions, their white breasts 
being very conspicuous as they turn towards the setting sun, 
while the whole flock seems to disappear for an instant as they 
wheel away from the light of the latter. 
The Peewit is at all seasons more or less gregarious, but more 
decidedly so in winter. It nests in scattered colonies, and, as 
is well known, its nests are much harried for the sake of the 
eggs, which are greatly esteemed as an article of food. The 
eggs are never very easy to discover, and would be still more 
difficult to find were it not for the anxiety which the birds 
evince when any intruder approaches the nests or young birds. 
They fly round and round, uttering a continued note of pee-a- 
weei-a-weei. The downy young are very difficult to discover, 
as their plumage so closely harmonises with their surroundings, 
while the attention of the observer is generally called off by 
the unhappy parent birds, who tumble and flutter about as if 
wounded. 
