378 GEALLATOEES, OE "WADING BIEDS. 



from mankind. ISTotliing of tlie sort ; it is killed wherever and 

 as often as possible ; besides this, means are discovered to set a 

 limit upon its multiplication by stealing away its eggs. "We 

 do not seem to perceive that this joyous, lively, and graceful 

 bird longs to conclude a treaty of friendship with mankind. 

 When will man make up his mind to understand his true in- 

 terests ? 



There are in Europe two species of this genus — the Crested 

 Lapwing and the Swiss Lapwing, or Squatarole. 



The Crested Lapwing ( Vajiellus cristatus), Fig. 149, is about 

 the size of a Pigeon ; its belly is white, and its back black, with a 

 metallic lustre. It is furnished with a crest, which coquettishly 

 adorns the back of its head. It is tolerably abundant in France, 

 but seems more especially partial to Holland. The Swiss Lapwing 

 is distinguished from the last by a lighter-coloured plumage, and 

 by the absence of the crest. 



The Plovers {PlumaUs) have a bill closely resembling that of 

 the Lapwing, and differ from it chiefly in the latter having a 

 back toe, which is absent altogether in the Plovers. They are, 

 however, connected by several ties of kindred. Like the Lapwing, 

 they live in moist places and in numerous flocks ; like them, they 

 feed on worms, which they catch much in the same way ; like 

 them, too, they make frequent ablutions ; finally, they are 

 always close neighbours, and unite in migration. But they do 

 not follow out the resemblance with the Lapwings so far as to 

 imitate them in behaving as good fathers of families, and in living 

 as good citizens with one wife chosen once for all. Plovers 

 understand life in quite another fashion ; they have other 

 aspirations and other desires ; fidelity in love is not a quality 

 which suits them, and they practise polygamy on the very largest 

 scale. 



One might well fancy that a bird of such low morality would 

 not be easily affected by the misfortunes of its fellows, and that it 

 would be endowed with no feelings but those of utter selfishness. 

 But nothing of the sort. If you knock down a Plover flying in 

 company with others, you may notice the whole flock coming 

 back to it to render the disabled one all the help they can ; and 

 if you are not too much of a novice, you will find no great difii- 



