318 RURAL BIRD LIFE. 



ploughed lands, without nests, often in the cavity formed 

 by the heavy feet of the horses or cattle, but wherever 

 we find the eggs they are almost invariably laid on some 

 little eminence. The young Lapwings can run as soon 

 as hatched, and are fed and tended by both the parent 

 birds. Pretty little creatures they are in their mottled 

 brown plumage, and ever in motion ; but should danger 

 threaten they instantly nestle into the herbage like young 

 Partridges, and remain motionless, while their anxious 

 and ever watchful parents endeavour to lead the intruder 

 away by their alluring motions. 



The Lapwing is a bird particularly active at night- 

 fall, and its shrill wailing notes are heard when the 

 sun's departure lias wrapped its haunt in mist and 

 gloom. The birds have a purpose in keeping such late 

 hours, for the worms that form their main support come 

 to the surface of the ground in largest numbers at dusk. 

 It has been gravely asserted that the Lapwing taps the 

 ground with his feet, for the purpose of bringing the 

 worms out of their holes to the surface of the ground : 

 the Starling is said to act in a similar manner for the 

 same purpose. But both these birds are never put to these 

 singular motions for the purpose of gaining a meal, and 

 worms are always to be secured either on the surface or 

 partly protuding from it. Again, were these motions 

 really resorted to, the bird has not the power to strike 

 the earth with sufficient force to alarm the worm creep- 

 ing beneath it. Snails, insects, and grubs also form 

 much of the Lapwing's food during the summer months. 



When the winds of autumn sweep dismally over the 

 uplands, and the heather and gorse flowers have faded, 

 the Lapwings bid their inland haunts adieu and wing 

 their way to the distant coasts, most probably migrating 

 in the night. Were we to follow them, we should find 



