234 EEMINISCEXCES OF A SPOETSMAX. 



than eight or ten : they flew very low and close together, 

 and some of those that were shot were extremely fat. 



The lapwang or peewit is so common that a detailed 

 description is unnecessary. It is about the size of a 

 pigeon, and weighs eight ounces ; the plumage is beau- 

 tiful, especially the crest. The male and female are 

 alike, but the last rather smaller. It is a constant inha- 

 bitant of this country, and seen on most of the heaths 

 and marshy grounds ; but as it subsists chiefly on worms, 

 it is forced to change its place in search of food, and is 

 frequently seen in great numbers by the sea shores, 

 where it finds an abundant supply. It is every- 

 where well known by its loud and incessant cries 

 whilst on the wing, and whence, in most languages, a 

 name has been given to it as imitative of the sound. It 

 runs along the ground very nimbly, and bounds from 

 spot to spot with great agility ; it frolics in the air in all 

 directions, assuming a variety of attitudes, and remaining 

 long upon the wing. The female lays her eggs on the 

 ground, scraping together a little dried grass for a nest. 

 They are four in number, of a dirty olive, spotted with 

 black. The lapwing's eggs are held in great esteem, 

 and sell from four to five shillings a dozen ; but the 

 poulterers sell occasionally eggs of rooks for those of 

 the plover. The hen sits about three weeks ; the young 

 lapwings run very young after being hatched, and are 

 first covered with a blackish down, interspersed with 

 long white hairs, which they gradually lose, and about 

 the latter end of July acquire their handsome plumage. 



The old birds show remarkable solicitude for their 

 offspring ; on the approach of any one to the place of 

 their deposit, they fly round his head with cries of the 



