egin to
arrive towards the end of February, and at first collect in a small
flock at one end of the meadow. A male, here and there, can then be seen
to break away from the flock, and to establish itself in a definite
position upon the unoccupied portion of the ground, where it remains
isolated from its companions. Others do likewise until the greater part
of the meadow is divided into territories. Six of these territories I
kept under observation for approximately two months in the year 1915.
The occupant of the one marked No. 6 upon the 1915 plan was a lame bird,
a fortunate occurrence as it enabled me to follow its movements with
some accuracy; and though it maintained its position for some weeks, it
ultimately disappeared, as a result, I believe, of the persistent
attacks of neighbouring males. The behaviour of the males during the
first fortnight or so after they broke away from the flock was
interesting. Though they retired to their territories and remained in
them for the greater part of their time, yet it was only by degrees that
they finally severed their connection with the flock, for so long as a
nucleus of a flock remained, so long were they liable to desert their
territories temporarily and to rejoin their companions.

[Illustration: Emery Walker Ltd. sc.

Plan of the water meadow showing the territories occupied by Lapwings in
the year 1915.]

[Illustration: Emery Walker Ltd. sc.

Plan of the water meadow showing the territories occupied by Lapwings in
the year 1916.

_Between pages 58 and 59._]

Lapwings, as is well known, collect in flocks during the winter months,
and these flocks, which sometimes reach vast proportions, are to be
found on tidal estuaries, water meadows, arable land, and such like
places, according to the prevailing climatic conditions. This flocking
may contribute towards survival, and may therefore be the result of
congenital dispositions which have been determined on biological
grounds. On the other hand, since food at that season is only to be
obtained in a limited number of situations, the birds may be simply
drawn together by accident. In the former case the behaviour would be
instinctive, in the latter, though accidental at first, recurrent
repetition would tend to make it habitual; but in either case the
impulse to accompany the flock must be a powerful one, for on the one
hand it would depend upon inherited, and on the other hand upon
acquired, connections in the nervous