39 



44 blossoms of the common maple. On this almost 

 44 flat bed the eggs, usually three or four in number, 

 44 are placed ; these are of a uniform greenish blue 

 44 colour, and of a size proportionable to that of 

 " the bird. While the female is sitting the male is 

 44 generally not far distant, and gives the alarm by 

 44 his notes when any person is approaching. The 

 u female sits so close that you may almost reach 

 a her with your hand, and then precipitates her- 

 44 self to the ground, feigning lameness to draw 

 " you away from the spot, fluttering, trailing her 

 44 wings, and tumbling over in the manner of the 

 44 partridge, woodcock, and many ether species. 

 44 Their food consists for the most part of cater- 

 a pillars, particularly such as infest the apple 

 44 trees. They also occasionally eat various kinds 

 44 of berries. But from the circumstance of 

 44 destroying such numbers of very noxious larvae, 

 44 they prove themselves the friend of the farmer." 



CUKLEW, COMMON. 



ARQUATA, 



This bird is found in most parts of England. 

 In summer it haunts the large heathy and boggy 

 moors, feeding on worms, larvae, flies, &c. The 

 rest of the year it resorts to the sea-shore, where 

 it feeds on small crabs and marine insects. It is 



