24 



THE BIRDS OF NORTHAMPTONSHIRE 



situated in the water-meadows or upland pastures, 

 a few on certain very limited spots in our arable 

 lands; a rery great proportion of the eggs are 

 regularly stolen by Carrion-Crows, Rooks, and Jack- 

 daws, so that the number taken for the table by our 

 people is no index as to the true average of eggs 

 laid. The Peewit generally makes several scratchings 

 before finally deciding upon a site for laying, and 

 I have known of more than one instance in which 

 the female bird, after laying one or two eggs, has 

 without any apparent cause deserted them and com- 

 menced laying in a scratching within a few yards of 



IPee-wits and. Partridge: "What do you want?" 



her first deposit. The full complement of eggs is 

 four, but by removing three as soon as the laying is 

 complete, I have several times succeeded in obtaining 

 six or eight fresh eggs and left three or four to be 

 hatched out, and these late eggs have the best chance 



