THE PEEWIT OR PIWIPE 275 



until the second egg is laid, which, by-the-bye, is not the day 

 after the first is laid. They sometimes lay every day 

 sometimes omit two days without laying. But we will pay 

 no heed to the old cock ; we know his tricks to lead us 

 away on a cock-peewit chase, which is far worse than a 

 wild-goose chase for we are very likely, if unwary, to 

 attempt the one, and the other we should not. 



See those shallow cup-shaped depressions near those old 

 thistles. They are cocks' nests. He begins the game by 

 "scrabbing" several of them. I have counted five such 

 made by one bird. Some here, you see, are lined with 

 pulled grass; but they are nothing. She builds the real 

 nest, and that is why the fenmen are more delighted 

 when they see her on the ground; for they know that 

 when he is on the ground alone he is only pretending 

 with his " cock's nests." But you see the cock-bird 

 has gone too, since he could not take us in. But no 

 doubt we shall flush more birds on this marsh, for they are 

 sensible birds, and often build in company with each other, 

 and snipe and red-legs too build near them on suitable 

 marshes; but this one is too dry for them. But some 

 couples are unsociable and drive off all socially inclined 

 couples. 



Look, there is an old cock standing by yonder fork left 

 standing in a heap of litter ; the hen has flown silently away 

 whilst we have been talking. There are eggs thereabouts, 

 for he is watching them, as the cock always does when the 

 hen leaves the nest. But see, he is up and coming towards 

 us, crying the usual cry hovering close over our heads, as 

 if eager to pierce our caps. There must be young; he is 

 so excited. Had we a dog with us, he would dart down 

 almost within a yard of it. Let us search here amongst 

 these thistles and rushes, and be careful you do not tread 

 on the nest, for it is very easy to pass it over a dozen times. 

 But see, here it is, just by this thistle-stalk, with one help- 

 less but pretty little chick, two of the eggs " sprung " and the 



