418 CHARADRIID.E. 



The Lapwing or Peewit is one of the best known 

 among our native birds ; the first name suggested by its 

 peculiar mode of flight, — a slow flapping of its long wings ; 

 the second name having reference to the frequently-repeated 

 note of the bird, which the sound of the word peeweet closely 

 resembles. The French, in imitation of the sound of its note, 

 call this bird dixhuit. This species, like the rest of the Plovers, 

 inhabits marshy ground near lakes and rivers, wild heaths and 

 commons, or the hills of an open unenclosed country. In 

 such localities this bird is often very numerous, and during 

 the months of April and May their eggs are sought after as a 

 luxury for the table in all the districts where the birds are 

 common. The marshes of Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Cam- 

 bridgeshire, Essex, and Kent, afford a large proportion of 

 the quantity with which the London market is supplied. 

 Mr. Selby says, " The trade of collecting them continues for 

 about two months ; and great expertness in the discovery of 

 the nests is shown by those accustomed to it ; generally 

 judging of their situation by the conduct of the female birds, 

 who invariably, upon being disturbed, run from the eggs, and 

 then fly near to the ground for a short distance, without 

 uttering any alarm cry. The males, on the contrary, are 

 very clamorous, and fly round the intruder, endeavouring, by 

 various instinctive arts, to divert his attention." On this 

 subject, also, Mr. Salmon observes, " So expert have some 

 men become, that they will not only walk straight towards a 

 nest, which may be at a considerable distance, but tell the pro- 

 bable number of eggs it may contain, previous to inspection ; 

 generally judging of the situation and number of eggs by the 

 conduct of the female bird, which, when disturbed, leaves its 

 eggs, and flies off to a considerable distance without uttering 

 any note of alarm." In some counties, however, all the most 

 likely ground is carefully searched for eggs, once every day, 

 by women and children, without any reference to the actions 



