ely observing the behaviour as it is presented to us in the life of
the resident male, we not only gain a better insight into the changes in
operation, but can actually witness the breaking down of the winter
routine, stereotyped through repetition, by the new disposition as it
arises.

The first visible manifestations, even though they may be characterised
by a certain amount of vagueness, are therefore of great importance if
the behaviour is to be interpreted aright; and in order to insure that
none of these earlier symptoms shall be missed, it is necessary to begin
the daily record of the bird's movements at an early date in the season.
As a rule the second week in February is sufficiently early for the
purpose, but the date varies according to the prevailing climatic
conditions. Even in species widely remote there is great similarity of
procedure, and the behaviour of the Buntings is typical of that of many.
With the rise of the appropriate organic state the male resorts at
daybreak to a suitable environment, occupies a definite position, and
singling out some tree or prominent bush, which will serve as a
headquarters, advertises its presence there by song. At first the bird
restricts its visits, which though frequent in occurrence are of short
duration, for the most part to the early hours of the morning; it
disappears as suddenly as it appeared, and one can trace its flight to
the feeding grounds--a homestead or perhaps some newly sown field. But
by degrees the impulse to seek the society of the flock grows less and
less pronounced, the visits to the territory are more and more
prolonged, and the occupation of it then becomes the outstanding feature
of the bird's existence. This in outline is the course of procedure as
it appears to an external observer.

But although much can be learnt from the lives of these smaller species,
there is no gain-saying the fact that a great deal of patient
observation is required, and the process is apt to become tedious. There
are others, however, which are more readily observed, whilst their
life-histories afford just as clear an insight into the effect produced
by the new disposition upon the developing situation; and among these
the Lapwing takes a prominent position, because it is plentiful and
inhabits open ground where it is easily kept in view.

There is a water meadow with which I am familiar, where large numbers
resort annually for the purpose of procreation. Here they b