THE LAPWINGS LOVE-CALL 153 



other insects. Occasionally it eats small birds, and 

 these may sometimes be seen in his larder, which 

 consists of the sharp thorns round his nest on 

 which the various food is impaled until needed 

 for daily use. 



In winter, large flocks of Lapwings, or Peewits, 

 are to be seen in some of the fields in our suburb ; 

 but very few remain to breed, although in fields a 

 little farther up the country, numbers may be seen in 

 the breeding season. Both names of this bird have 

 been suggested from its habits and cry : Lapwing 

 probably from its flight, and Peewit from its note. 

 Its eggs are always in great demand in the early 

 spring as a table delicacy, and the first in the 

 market always command a high price. 



The love-call of this bird is one of the earliest 

 signs of coming spring ; and it is slightly different 

 from the ordinary plaintive cry pee-e-wit; it sounds, 

 rather, something like pi-weep, while there is a 

 curious drumming noise made by the wings as he 

 swiftly rushes through the air. When the young 

 brood, which leave their nest as soon as they are 

 hatched, are hiding among surrounding tufts of 

 grass, as they do when any one approaches, the 

 parent Lapwings will fly round the intruder's 

 head, and utter a lengthened pee-e-e-wit, sometimes 

 only calling pee-e, pee-e-e ; and when we get to the 



