LAPWING, Vanellus, a genus of birds of the family charadriada (plovers, etc.), differing from the plovers chiefly in having a hind-toe, which, however, is small. The nasal grooves are also prolonged over two-thirds of the beak.—One species, the COMMON LAPWING, CRESTED LAPWING, Or PEEWIT (V. eristatus), is a well-known British bird. It is also a native of almost all parts of Europe, and of some parts of Asia and of Africa. It is found in Bengal, in China, in Japan, and in Iceland; but it is not a native of America. It is not quite so large as a pigeon, and has the head surmounted with a beautiful crest. The head and crest are black; the throat black in summer, and white in winter; the back is green, glossed with purple and copper color. The name lapwing is derived from the sound which the wings make in flight; the name peewit (Scottish peesweep), with the French di.druit, the Swedish wipa, the Danish kivit and vibe, the old English wype, the Greek aix, etc., from the plaintive note; the local Scottish (tufthead), from the crested head. The lapwing is very plentiful in moors, open commons, and marshy tracts, in pairs during the breeding season; and in winter in flocks, chiefly on the sea shore. Its artifices to prevent the discovery of its nest are very interesting. The nest
is little more than a mere depression in the ground, and the full complement of eggs is usually four; but if some are taken away, the bird goes on laying, an instinct of which the egg-gatherers take advantage. The eggs are esteemed a great delicacy, and great numbers are sent to the London market, under the name of plovers' eggs, from the marshy districts of England. The bird itself is also highly esteemed for the table.—A pet lap wing in a garden is of great service in preventing the too great increase of worms and slugs.—Some species of lapwing have wattles at the base of the bill.—The TERU-TERO of South America (V. cayanensis), a species with spurs ou the wings, abounds on the pampas of South America, is noisy on the approach of travelers, like the common lap wing, and its eggs are likewise in the highest esteem as a delicacy.
LAR, an important t. of Persia, capital of the province of Laristan, is situated on a well-wooded plain, at the foot of a ridge of hills, 60 m. from the Persian gulf, and 180 m. s.s.e. of Shiraz. The bazaar of Lay is said to be the finest and most elaborate in Persia. Pop.' 12,000, who manufacture swords, muskets, and cotton-cloth.