THE LAPWING. 127 



observed in it some singular traits. It lived chiefly on 

 insects ; but these failed on the approach of winter, and 

 necessity compelled it to draw nigh the house, from 

 which it had previously remained at a wary distance. A 

 servant, hearing its feeble cry, as if asking for relief, 

 opened the door of the back kitchen. It did not, how- 

 ever, venture far at first, but it became daily more fami- 

 liar as the cold increased, till, at length, though a dog 

 and cat were there, it actually entered the room. It 

 afterwards became so well acquainted with these ani- 

 mals, as to enter the kitchen at nightfall, and to take its 

 place at the chimney-corner, where it remained snugly 

 by their side for the night. But as soon as spring 

 returned, it preferred roosting in the garden, though, in 

 the ensuing winter, it visited again the fireside. Now 

 its former feelings were changed : naturally apprehen- 

 sive of the dog and cat, it not only lost all fear of them, 

 but treated them as its inferiors, and arrogated to itself 

 the place it had first obtained by humble solicitation. 



