Genus VANELLUS.
Gen. Char. B i l l shorter th an th e h e ad, straight, s lig h t ly compressed; th e points o f both
man dibles h o rn y and hard. N a s a l g ro o v e wide , an d re a ch in g as fa r as th e h om y tip.
N o s tr ils basal, linear, p ie rced in th e membrane o f th e nasal gro o ve . L e g s slender, w ith
th e low e r p a rt o f th e tib iæ nak ed . F e e t four-toed ; th ree before, and one beh in d, united
at the base b y a membrane ; h in d toe v e r y short, articulated u pon th e tarsus. T a r a reticulated.
W ings ample, tu b erculated o r sp u r red ; th e first th ree quiU-feathers notched or
su dd en ly nar row ed towards th e ir tips,1 an d shorter th an th e fourth an d fifth, w h ich are the
longest.
L A PWING.
V an e llu s cristatus, M eyer.
L e V an n e au H u ppé .
The Lapwing, or Peewit, both with respect to the elegance o f its plumage and the general outline o f its
contour, and the light and graceful manner in which it trips along the ground, together with its habits
and economy, is one o f the most interesting o f our native Plovers. When we consider that all this grace
and elegance is appointed by nature to add life and cheerfulness to bleak moorlands and swampy plains far
from the hab.tual resort o f man, we cannot but feel that those desolate spots in creation are not without their
peculiar attractions. Those o f our readers who would wish to observe this bird in a state o f nature will be
amply repaid by a visit to ils native districts; and as there are no heaths, wide moorlands, or swampy places
o f any extent throughout the British Islands without the presence o f the Peewit during summer, their natural
habits and manners may be investigated with great ease and with but little expense or trouble
This species is distributed over the whole o f Europe, everywhere inhabiting situations similar to those it
occupies in our own island. We have also seen specimens in collections from India and Africa. Although
tins individual species is confined to the Old World, America is not withont this peculiar form, as the
collection formed by Capt. P. P. King during his late survey o f part o f the southern coast, and since p’resented
by him to the Zoological Society, fully confirms.
The flight o f the Lapwing is heavy, flapping, and apparently performed with considerable exertion I f the
hreeding-place be approached, the male utters his call o f P eem t repeatedly, and at the same time exhibits a
senes o f aerial evolutions peculiar to himself; and although no great velocity distinguishes his flight his
numerous turns are made with great quickness and dexterity.
Its nidification, like that o f the rest o f its allied race, takes place on the bare earth, no nest being made for
the reception o f the eggs, which are four in number, o f an olive colour blotched and spotted with black.
They perform the. task o f incubation at an^arly season o f tbe year, commencing on our heatby moorlands
in the month o f March, soon after which they deposit their eggs, which arc eagerly sought for as a luxury for
the table ; hence immense numbers are annually gathered and transmitted to the various markets : nor are
the birds themselves less esteemed. Their food consists o f insects, worms, and slugs.
The sexes are much alike in plumage ; the male, however, exhibits a richer tone o f colouring and a longer
occipital crest. Some little variation takes place between the summer and winter dress, the male in the
former season being adorned with a fine black throat, which changes to white in winter. The young attain
the adult plumage in their second year.
Adults have the top o f the head, crest, and breast black ; the upper surface black, with green and bronred
reflections ; many o f the back feathers edged with brown ; the under parts pure white ; the tail-feathers white
largely tipped with black; the outer tail-feathers white; the upper and under tail-coverts rufous; the beak
black; and the legs reddish brown inclining to purple.
The Plate represents a male and female in the summer and winter plumage.