LAPWING.] NATURAL HISTORY. 173 



and great of body, and more stronger of body, than those 

 which be yeaned in harvest and in winter. Lambs which 

 be conceived in the Northern wind be better than those 

 that be conceived in the Southern wind. And Lambs have 

 such colour in flesh and in wool, as the father and the 

 mother have colour in veins of the tongue. The Lamb 

 hoppeth and leapeth tofore the flock, and playeth, and 

 dreadeth full sore when he seeth the wolf, and fleeth sud- 

 denly away ; - - but anon he is astonied for dread, and 

 stinteth [i.e., stoppeth] suddenly, and dare flee no further ; 

 and prayeth to be spared, not with bleating, but with a 

 simple cheer, when he is taken of his enemy. Also 

 whether he be led to pasture or to death, he grudgeth not, 

 nor pranceth not, but is obedient and meek. It is peril to 

 leave Lambs alone, for they die soon, if there fall any 

 strong thunder ; for the Lamb hath kindly a feeble head. 



Bartholomew (Berthelet\ bk. xviii. 4. 



LAMBS have an evil, that is when they be too fat about 

 the reins, for if the tallow covereth the reins, then they 

 die, and the tallow increaseth in good pasture ; and, there- 

 fore, Lambs be put out of the pasture, lest they wax too 

 fat. uid. t 6. 



THE rennet of a Lamb is good against all evil medi- 

 cines, and against the bites or blows of marine animals, 

 and cures all venomous bites. Hortus Sanitatis, bk. ii. 2. 



Lapwing. 



MEASURE FOR MEASURE, i. 4, 32. 



THE Lapwing eateth man's dirt ; for it is a bird most 

 filthy and unclean, and is copped [i.e., crested] on the head, 

 and dwelleth always in graves or in dirt. And if a man 

 anoint himself with her blood when he goeth to sleep, he 

 shall see fiends busy to strangle and snare him ; and her 

 heart is good to evil-doers, for in their evil-doings they 

 use their hearts. When he ageth, so that he may neither 

 see nor fly, his birds [i.e., young] pull away the feeble 

 feathers, and anoint his eyes with juice of herbs, and hide 

 him under their wings till his feathers be grown ; and sa 

 he is renewed, and flieth and seeth clearly. 



Bartholomew (Bertbelet), bk. xii. 37. 



