104 T H E C R A N E K I N D. 



corn, and mardies. Having cleared away from the hole where a worm Is 

 lodged, the little rolls of earth which the worm ejeds, and thus opened 

 the hole, he ftrikes with feet, and ftands (lock ftill, accurately watching: 

 this flight commotion alarms the worm, and prompts him to quit his re- 

 treat J but the moment he appears, the Lapwing feizes him. When the 

 worms come out in the evening, to enjoy the frefh dew, the Lapwing 

 running in the grafs, feels them with his feet, and thus fecures them. 



When they firft arrive they are in flocks i but they foon feparate, and 

 pair, after x few battles among the males. The young females expofe 

 their ncfts more than the older. The arts of the Lapwing to divert men 

 or dogs from her neft, are perfedly amufing : if fhe perceives the enemy 

 approaching, Ilie boldly runs to meet them ; when as near them as flie 

 dare venture, (he rifes with a loud fcreaming before them, feeming as 

 if juft fluftied from hatching ; while Ihe is probably a hundred yards from 

 the neft. Thus fhe flies, with great clamour and anxiety, whining and 

 fcreaming, round the invaders, and fluttering as if wounded. To add to 

 the deceit, flne appears more clamorous, as more remote from the neft. 

 If there be dogs, flic flies heavily at a little diftance before them, as if 

 maimed; vociferous and bold, but never oflfering to move toward the 

 quarter where her treafure is. The dog purfues, in hopes every moment 

 of feizing the parent, and by this means a6lually lofes the young ; for 

 the cunning bird, when flie has thus drawn him off to a proper diftance, 

 then puts forth her powers, and leaves her aftonifliedpurfuer to gaze in 

 vain. : 



THE OYSTER-CATCHER 



FREQUENTS the fea-fide, feeds on fea-worms, oyfters, limpets, 

 and other ftiell-fifli, which he gathers on the fands. He is always 

 found on the beach, or on reefs of rocks, dry at low water ; there he care- 

 fully watches the flux and reflux of the tide, never ftraying far from "tftMi 

 fliore : , he has alfo been called the Sia Pie, as well becaufe his plumage 

 is black and white, as becaufe, like the Pie, he is in continual clamour, 

 cfpecially when in a troop ; but the name feems mifapplied : the fpecies 

 is greatly fpread throughout the world ; is the fize of a crow ; his bill 

 four inches long, is narrowed, and as it were compreflied, above the nof- 

 trils, and fiat on the fides, having fome refemblance to an old-fafliioned 



hatchet i 



