LAPWING. 285 



female bird." In some counties, however, all the most likely 

 ground is carefully searched for eggs, once every day, by 

 women and children, without any reference to the actions of 

 the birds. The male bird generally scratches out several 

 shallow holes, in one of which the female dej^osits her 

 four pear-shaped eggs, adding a few dried bents as incuba- 

 tion proceeds. The eggs are typically of an olive-coloured 

 ground, blotched and spotted nearly all over with blackish- 

 brown, but a pale stone-coloured ground with minute spots 

 is not uncommon : they measure about 1*6 by 1"3 in. The 

 usual number is four, but occasionally five have been found ; 

 in a clutch of this number found by Major E. A. Butler, 

 close to Lough Larne, on the 22nd April, 1883, all five were 

 fresh and so similar in their appearance as to render it 

 probable that they were the produce of the same bird. The 

 young, when hatched, are covered with a yellowish fawn- 

 coloured down, mixed and spotted with brownish-black, with 

 a light-coloured collar round the neck and a broad pectoral 

 band. They soon follow the parent birds, who lead them to 

 the softer parts of the soil, where food is more abundantly 

 obtained. They feed on earth-worms, slugs, and insects in 

 their various stages ; and from their services in this way, Lap- 

 wings are frequently kept in gardens, and become very interest- 

 ing pets. Latham says, "I have seen this bird approach a 

 worm-cast, turn it aside, and after walking two or three times 

 about it, by way of giving motion to the ground, the worm 

 come out, and the watchful bird, seizing hold of it, draw it 

 forth. The habit of the Lapwing, of flying and scream- 

 ing over the head of any one who happens to go near 

 their eggs or young, has been productive of very opposite 

 feelings towards them. Charles Anderson, Esq., of Lea, 

 near Gainsborough, to whom the Author was indebted for 

 many notes on the Birds of Lincolnshire, sent him word 

 that a very ancient Lincolnshire family, the Tyrwhitts, bear 

 three Peewits for their arms*; and it is said, from a tradi- 

 tion, that it was in consequence of the founder of their family, 

 Sir Hercules Tyrwhitt, having fallen in a skirmish, wounded, 



• The arms are (jtdefi, three Peewits or. 



