316 RURAL BIRD LIFE. 



and adding to the beauty of the surrounding scene by 

 its rich and varied plumage. 



As you wander over their breezy haunts, you have 

 good opportunity of witnessing their easy buoyant flight. 

 Your first appearance calls forth the signal of alarm, and 

 one by one the birds rise from the ground, and with 

 flapping pinions sail above your head, their snow-white 

 plumage glistening in the light. There is a certain bold 

 impressiveness about their flight that fails to bend to 

 the pen's descriptive powers. Now they soar, seemingly 

 without effort, then on flapping wings they wheel round 

 and round. Anon they dart rapidly down, as if hurling 

 themselves to the ground ; and then, mounting the air 

 again with easy grace, fly in ever-changing course, darting, 

 wheeling, tumbling, and reeling, as though beating time 

 with their pinions to their wailing and expressive cries 

 cries that seem to speak of defiance and alarm ; defiance 

 at your puny efforts to cross their dangerous haunt, and 

 alarm for the safety of their eggs or young lying ex- 

 posed on the waste around. Weet-a-weet, pee-weet-weet, 

 sounds in all directions, as if the birds were beseeching 

 you to quit their unattractive home, and leave them to 

 the solitude which .they love. Your retreat is the signal 

 for alighting, and one by one they flap rapidly just above 

 the ground, and then alight. In the air the Lapwing is 

 a somewhat singular looking bird, and its immense 

 stretch of wing and strange and rapid motions enable 

 you readily to distinguish it from any other bird that 

 cleaves the air. If you watch them closely you find 

 that they alight somewhat different from other birds, 

 and keep the long wings extended for a few moments, 

 and then gracefully fold them. At a distance the 

 upper plumage of the Lapwing appears of a mouse 

 colour ; yet when you examine it closely you find it is 



