THE LAPWING. 57 



time close to the ground, bringing to mind Shakespeare's 

 lines in " Much Ado About Nothing : " 



" Look where Beatrice, like a lapwing, runs 

 Close by the ground to hear our conference ; " 



and then both the male and female come screaming round 

 with their "sounding flight and wailing cry," wheeling 

 upwards, and then passing so close that the rustle of the 

 wings is plainly audible ; but as the nest is approached 

 the birds become quite silent : 



" But if where all the dappled treasure lies 

 He bends his steps, no more she round him flies ; 

 Forlorn, despairing of a mother's skill, 

 Silent and sad she seeks the distant hill." 



Should she be disturbed when with her brood, what 

 mishaps she feigns, to draw off the attention of the 

 intruder, be it dog or man, flapping along the ground 

 with a broken wing or fractured leg, falling flat as if dead, 

 and many other strange antics ! 



It has many provincial names, Lymptwigg in Devon- 

 shire, Peweep in Norfolk, Puit in Essex, Tuet in Lanca- 

 shire, Flopwing in Beds. In Ireland it is known as 

 Phillipene. In Scotland its general name is Peaseweep. 



" Peaseweep, peaseweep, 

 Harry my nest and gar me greet," 



is an old Scotch nursery rhyme. In that country it has a 

 bad name, as it was supposed by its cry and movements 

 to have guided the troopers of Claverhouse to the hiding- 

 places of the Covenanters : 



" But, though the pitying sun withdraws his light, 

 The lapwing's clamorous whoop attends their flight, 

 Pursues their steps where'er the wanderers go, 

 Till the shrill scream betrays them to their foe." 



On the other hand, Sir Hercules Tyrrwhit, having 

 been severely wounded, was saved by his followers being 

 directed to the spot where he lay by the cries of these 



