Northern Observations of Inland Birds 41 



has so many natural foes that, although it may flourish 

 with man's protection, it can only just hold its own where 

 man is indifferent to its welfare, and when we purposely 

 set out to destroy the adult birds an immediate decline 

 in their number results. The bird is in every sense 

 beneficial to the land, a friend to the farmer, and an enemy 

 to none ; its cheery call notes are a joy to hear, so 

 fragrantly reminiscent of the open hills, and it must be 

 borne in mind that in its numbers lies its only strength. 

 It is so with all ground breeding birds of gregarious 

 habits. When once their numbers begin to diminish 

 they seem to lose all power of resistance, and to decrease 

 more and more rapidly. 



Another foe of the lapwing, of which mention might 

 be made, is neither man, bird, nor beast. In my diary 

 under date August 23rd, 19 13, 1 find the following entry : — 

 " Rabbit shooting at Kelnsey. I saw a lapwing running 

 along under a wall. Gave chase, and caught it immediately. 

 It was in a starved and wretched condition, owing to 

 its feet having become enmeshed in a wisp of sheep's 

 wool. Two of the toes were missing from one foot, and 

 one from the other. The stumps were quite healed, so 

 its feet must have been entangled for some weeks." 



Some years previously I caught a lapwing in an exactly 

 similar plight, and on both occasions, when rounding up 

 the unlucky bird, I noticed a curious antic in its behaviour. 

 Every few paces the bird would stop, and strike its beak 

 into the ground with repeated rapid strokes — sometimes 

 with such force as to have difficulty in withdrawing it. 

 Why is this ? It looked exactly as though the bird were 

 feeding. 



Examining dead lapwings displayed for sale, I have 

 noticed that quite a large percentage of them are minus 

 a certain number of toes, sometimes the whole foot being 

 crippled. In this respect — the absences of minor members 



