ISO BIRDS OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE. 



duty of incubation, which continues for about eighteen or 

 twenty days. The young leave the nest and run about 

 soon after they are hatched. 



The dotterels feed on insects of all kinds, worms, slugs, 

 snails, etc., and leaves of various plants. 



On the whole, it is a prett}' bird, whose wing feathers 

 are in request for artificial Hy-uiaking. It has the reputa- 

 tion of being imitative to a foolish extent, hence its name 

 dotterel, and morinellus, from viorio a dotard ; but it is 

 doubtful whether this popular estimation of its char- 

 acter is correct, or whether Drayton, the poet, has any 

 real foundation, in fact, for the word picture he draws 

 of it. 



Lapwing, or Peewit. — Dark green, with a metallic gloss 

 on the upper surface, and black and white on the lower, 

 are the prevailing colours of this well-known bird ; but the 

 head and long crost, as well as the chin, throat, and breast, 

 arc black, and the belly and under tail coverts bufi': the 

 flights and lesser wing coverts have a deej) blue shade ; 

 and the legs and feet are yellowish gre3^ Length, about 

 12 inches. 



The laj)wing is resident in Britain throughout the year, 

 frequenting marshes, fallow fields, meadows, heaths, and 

 similar localities, especially during the winter, when it 

 assembles in large flocks. 



The eggs, which are in immense request for the table, 

 are large. for the size of the bird, of a creamy ground 

 colour, but vary greatly in the markings that more or less 

 cover them. They are always four in number, and are 

 placed with the small ends pointing to a common centre. 

 In soft wet ground, they are often deposited on the top of 

 a mole-hill, which the bird tramples down, so as to form a 

 place for them. 



When assembled in a flock, these birds have a habit of 



