222 GRALLATORES. VANELLUS. LAPWING. 



of collecting them continues for about two months, and great 

 expertness in the discovery of the nests is shewn by those 

 accustomed to it ; generally judging of their situation by the 

 conduct of the female birds, who invariably, upon being dis- 

 turbed, run from the eggs, and then fly near to the ground 

 for a short distance, without uttering any alarm-cry. The 

 males, on the contrary, are very clamorous, and fly round 

 the intruder, endeavouring, by various instinctive arts, to 

 divert his attention. The young, when hatched, are covered 

 with down of an ochreous yellow, mixed with brown : they 

 are assiduously attended by the parents, who lead them to 

 the softer parts of the soil, where food is more abundantly 

 obtained. At this interesting period, when engaged in their 

 parental duties, these birds must have attracted the attention 

 of most persons, from the extreme anxiety they display, and 

 the devices they practise, in order to draw off either man or 

 dog from the vicinity of their callow brood. After the young 

 are fully grown, and able to fly, they assemble in large flocks ; 

 gradually, as autumn approaches, deserting the interior of 

 the country, and moving nearer to the coast. Here they 

 chiefly frequent the fallow grounds and turnip fields, re- 

 maining (with allusion to the northern counties) till Novem- 

 ber, or even later, should the weather continue mild or open ; 

 but, in case of severe frost, most of them retire, and pass 

 the rest of the winter farther to the southward. In Northum- 

 berland they re-appear, towards the end of February or the 

 beginning of March, in small flocks ; from which, having se- 

 parated and paired, they spread themselves over the face of 

 the country. At this season their flight (particularly that of 

 the male birds) is very peculiar, being subject to a variety 

 of evolutions, in the course of which they frequently dart 

 perpendicularly upwards to a considerable height, then 

 throwing a summerset, as it would seem, in the air, suddenly 

 descend almost to the ground, along which they course with 

 many turnings and great velocity, till the same manoeuvre is 

 repeated. These movements are attended by a loud hissing 



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