LAPWING. 109 



as a good omen for sport, '* no wypes* no fowl " being 

 with them a common expression. 



However monotonous, the wail of the peewit in its wild 

 haunts has a charm for the ear of the lover of nature, 

 and the sterile heath or wide level range of marshy 

 ground is enhvened by its actions, whether watchfully 

 listening with erected crest, or hovering and tumbling 

 with its humming wings and strangely varied flight. 



It is curious to find so accurate an observer as 

 the late Mr. St. Johnf describing the lapwing as 

 *' altogether a nocturnal bird as to feeding," since with 

 us, at least, the contrary may be observed at all seasons, 

 both inland and on the coast. At West Harling, some 

 two or three years ago, in the early spring, I observed 

 ten or twelve pairs in the middle of the day, all 

 busily feeding on some recently ploughed land, and 

 about the same time of year I once shot four out of 

 a small flock on the cliffs, near Cromer, which, in 

 like manner, were so deeply engaged that I crept 

 up within range before they saw me. On moonlight 

 nights, Hke the stone-curlew, they are on the wing, 

 uttering their cries for hours, and I have also heard 

 them in spring, with the " drumming " snipe, as 

 late as ten or eleven o'clock, when too dark to dis- 

 tinguish anything. As pets for the aviary and garden, 

 lapwings are both useful and ornamental, destroying 

 large numbers of worms, grubs, and insects, and from 

 their handsome plumage and pretty attitudes are very- 

 attractive. They are also particularly sociable birds, 

 one captive not unfrequently attracting others of its 



* As will be seen by tbe extracts from the Northumberland 

 and other " Household Books," this is an old English term for the 

 lapwing or peewit, and " wipa," is stUl its Swedish name at the 

 present day. 



t "Wild Sports of the Highlands," p. 135. 



