AND NEIGHBOURHOOD. 25 



from the partial concealment afforded by the growth 

 of the surrounding vegetation. Till the Peewit 

 commences to sit, both old birds are very bold in 

 flying around and even at an intruder, but as soon 

 as incubation begins the hen bird slips quietly from 

 her eggs when approached and, after running a short 

 distance, flies off low and silently to a distance, 

 leaving the protection of her treasure to the courage 

 and artifice of her mate, but after the young birds 

 leave the nest both the parent birds will do their 

 utmost to draw the attention of men and dogs away 

 from their downy family to themselves by screaming 

 and feigning inability to fly, and they show very great 

 courage in attacking and buffeting the thieving 

 Crows, who are their principal enemies. We have 

 often noticed that our Peewits in September, when 

 the young are strong on the wing and able to take 

 good care of themselves, would scream after and 

 stoop at our ranging dogs, and I have more than 

 once seen them act in the same manner to a hunted 

 fox. Many tales are related of the discovery of 

 persons concealed on the moors and fens by these 

 habits of our birds, and the editor of Yarrell, 4th ed., 

 quotes an interesting story of the rescue of a wounded 

 gentleman of Lincolnshire, by the attention of his 

 followers being directed to the spot where he lay by 

 the Peewits hovering over him. 



In our district these birds collect into large flocks 

 in the meadows and turnip-fields in September or 

 August, but do not, as a rule, remain with us for 

 more than a few weeks ; some fresh flocks, however, 

 often visit us in October and November and remain 

 till the first severe frosts. When thus flocked 

 together the Peewits are pretty wide awake and 



