220 WARFARE BETWEEN DIFFERENT SPECIES 



does to that of another Lapwing. Again and 

 again, day after day, the Snipe are attacked and 

 driven off in a manner which would be fittingly 

 described as persistent persecution, for the Snipe 

 has neither the physical capacity nor apparently 

 any instinctive tendency to retaliate. Thus a 

 Lapwing may come suddenly upon a small 

 party of Snipe hidden from view in a dyke 

 where they are probing the ground for food ; 

 the Snipe immediately rise and fly away and 

 there is momentary confusion as the Lapwing 

 darts first at this one, then at that ; or, espying 

 a Snipe at rest at the opposite end of its 

 territory, it will first of all run rapidly towards 

 it, and then fly after it, as, with twisting flight, 

 it darts hither and thither a few feet above the 

 ground ; or again, it will attack and rapidly 

 pursue solitary individuals as they skim across 

 its territory and attempt to settle. Is this 

 intolerance merely an exuberant expression of 

 an instinct which is serviceable in another 

 direction ? The behaviour of the Lapwing 

 scarcely justifies such a conclusion, for all its 

 actions denote a striving towards some end 

 which we can describe, and it seems to gain 

 satisfaction only when the ejection of the 

 intruder has been accomplished. 



Many of the Warblers display irritation 

 when approached by other birds which we 

 should scarcely expect would arouse their 

 hostility. The Hedge- Sparrow, for example, is 

 frequently regarded with suspicion, and it is 

 by no means unusual to see it attacked by so 



