THE ARDENT LAPWING 



he is wakeful and a-wing. What a contrast between 

 lapwing and noctule ! With the bird, an incon- 

 siderable fraction of the twenty-four hours is for 

 sleep ; with the bat, an inconsiderable fraction for 

 wakefulness. 



Lapwings are always beautiful and showy in 

 flight. Take the lapwing in winter. A large flock 

 wavering from field to field, opening out and closing 

 in ; scattering to isolated individuals, gathering into 

 groups ; now seeming likely to split up and act 

 independently of each other, anon sweeping together 

 as if moved by some spirit of the flock this is a 

 sight I always revelled in. Whether from indecision 

 or caution, a flock will take many minutes to fly 

 from one beat to another a few hundred yards dis- 

 tant, much time being spent in the air before the 

 birds can make up their minds to alight. A flock 

 flying against the wind will execute a movement that 

 reminds one of a sail-boat tacking, and, cutting into 

 a strong wind, their wings present a singular wavy 

 line a like effect being produced in miniature by 

 the columnar movements of gnats in mazy swarms. 

 The opening-out and closing-in movements of the 

 lapwing flock are marked by the regularity of a 

 regiment of troops. But the soldier has an officer 

 to give the word of command ; the lapwing is 

 leaderless. 



The lapwing twirl and tumble is rarely seen 

 among the flocked birds. Once or twice in autumn, 

 after the flock is formed, I have seen a lapwing go 

 through a part of the spring display, but it has soon 



79 



