338 BIRDS OF SOMERSETSHIRE. 



As may be supposed from the localities it fre- 

 quents, the food of the Peewit consists principally of 

 worms, grubs, slugs and insects ; consequently it is 

 amongst the very few feathered pets of the gardener, 

 and is often kept tame in his garden, and when once 

 tamed it becomes very tame, although naturally a 

 very wild bird and difficult of approach. 



The nest, like that of others of the family, is a 

 very slight affair a mere hole in the ground, with 

 a few bents of rough grass twisted round it. In some 

 counties, where Peewits breed in large numbers, the 

 eggs are collected and sent to London, where they 

 form a standing dish at ball suppers and wedding 

 breakfasts, and other such like occasions ; but when 

 Plovers' eggs fail I believe Books' eggs are often 

 made to take their place, and when prettily done up 

 in moss the difference is not noticed, especially by 

 the unlearned in such matters. 



In plumage the Peewit is a very handsome and 

 peculiar-looking bird, but it is too well known to 

 need more than a very general description. The 

 beak is black ; the irides hazel ; the top of the head 

 dark green, almost black ; from the back of the head 

 springs a crest consisting of several very long narrow 

 dark green feathers ; there is a white streak over the 

 eye and a black one under it ; the cheeks and sides 

 of the neck are dullish white, just tinged with rusty 

 brown and streaked with black ; nape rusty brown 

 and dirty white and black ; back, scapulars and ter- 



