272 Peewits. 



Peewits or lapwings not onl} T pack in the winter, 

 but may almost be said to pass the nesting-time to- 

 gether. There are two favorite localities in the dis- 

 trict, which has been more particularly described, 

 much frequented by these birds. One is among 

 some water-meadows, where the grass is long earlier 

 in the spring than elsewhere ; there the first bennet 

 pushes up its green staff country people always 

 note the appearance of the first bennet and the 

 first cuckoo-flower opens. Several nests are made 

 here on the ground, in comparatively close con- 

 tiguity. 



Upon approaching, the old bird flies up, circles 

 round, and comes so near as almost to be within 

 reach, whistling ' pee- wit, pee- wit,' over your head. 

 He seems to tumble in the air as if wounded and 

 scarcely able to fly ; and those who are not aware 

 of his intention may be tempted to pursue, thinking 

 to catch him. But so soon as j-ou are leaving the 

 nest behind he mounts higher, and wheels off to a 

 distant corner of the field, uttering an ironical ' pee- 

 wit' as he goes. If you neglect his invitation to 

 catch, him if you can, and search for the nest or 

 stand still, he gets greatly excited and comes much 

 closer, and in a few minutes is joined b}- his mate, 

 who also circles round ; while several of their friends 

 fly at a safer distance, whistling in sympathy. 



Then you have a good opportunity of observing 

 the peculiar motion of their wings, which seem to, 

 strike simply downwards and not also backwards, 

 as with other birds ; it is a quick jerking movement, 

 the wing giving the impression of pausing the tenth 

 of a second at the finish of the stroke before it is 



