AN EPISODE IN THE LIFE OF PAUL JONES. 185 
four or five days, when he died on the passage from Tobago 
to Antigua. He never heard Maxwell complain of having 
received any ill-usage from John Paul, and he believed that his 
death was occasioned by fever and lowness of spirits. This 
should be sufficient to dispose of the charge, and one is glad to 
know that the fame of the “Father of the American Navy’’ is 
not besmirched by such a scandal. Whether it was his treat- 
ment at this period, or whether it was the result of honest con- 
viction, one would like to know, but within another four years 
he had cast in his lot with the revolted Colonies and had offered 
his services to Congress. In April, 1778, he made his celebrated 
raid on these coasts in the “ Ranger,’’ 18 guns, and performed 
some daring exploits, which do not come within the scope of 
this paper, unless it be the descent on St Mary’s Isle, when he 
carried off Lord Selkirk’s plate, to restore it six years later. The 
wonder is that he did not come up the river to the town in whose 
Tolbooth he had been incarcerated on a serious charge. In 
Mackenzie’s “ History of Galloway’’ the curious may read a 
circumstantial account of the state of terror and excitement into 
which the inhabitants were thrown, and which was contributed 
by Malcolmson, the correspondent of Sir Walter Scott, the 
Ettrick Shepherd, and Joseph Train. 
THE Lapwinc. By the Late Mr Wm. Hunter, Carlaverock. 
Everyone must be acquainted with the habits of the familiar 
lapwing, the bright and attractive form of which adorns almost 
every landscape. It is the most common of the plover family, 
and, during the daytime in the autumn and winter months, after 
its paternal and maternal duties are o’er, it is to be found 
scattered over the country, usually in large flocks, sometimes on 
pasture and marshy land, but more often on fallow land and 
land where root crops have been raised in search of worms, slugs, 
and other food. It is not easily seen on the latter ground as it 
runs to and fro, but whenever the birds take flight their bright, 
white under parts are then plainly visible. On pasture land, 
however, it is a very interesting bird to watch. How coolly does 
it go about all its movements too! After running a few feet 
over the surface of the ground, its head is lowered, and almost 
immediately its alert eye has caught sight of some unfortunate 
