THE LAPWING. 315 



clusters of pellets, or rolls of earth, that are thrown out by the 

 worm's perforations, it first gently removes the mould from the 

 mouth of the hole, then strikes the ground at the side with its 

 foot, and steadily and attentively waits the issue : the reptile, 

 alarmed by the shock, emerges from its retreat, and is instantly 

 seized. In the evening the lapwings pursue a different plan : 

 they run along the grass and feel under their feet the worms, 

 which now come forth invited by the coolness of the air. Thus 

 they obtain a plentiful meal ; and afterwards wash their bill and 

 feet in the small pools or rivulets. 



" I have seen this bird (says Dr. Latham) approach a worm- 

 cast, turn it aside, and, after making two or three turns about, 

 by way of giving motion to the ground, the worm came out, 

 and the watchful bird, seizing hold of it, drew it forth." 



They remain in England the whole year. The female lays 

 four eggs on the dry ground, near some marsh, upon a little bed 

 which she prepares of dry grass. These are olive- coloured and 

 spotted with black. She sits about three weeks, and the young 

 are able to run within two or three days after they are hatched. 



The parent exhibits the greatest attachment to them ; and the 

 arts used by this bird to allure boys and dogs from the place 

 where they are running, are extremely amusing. She does not 

 wait the arrival of her enemies at the nest, but boldly pushes 

 out to meet them. When as near as she dare venture, she rises 

 from the ground with a loud screaming voice, as if just flushed 

 from hatching, though probably at the same time not within a 

 hundred yards of her nest. She now flies with great clamour 

 and apparent anxiety ; whining and screaming round the inva- 

 ders, striking at them with her wings, and sometimes fluttering 

 as if she was wounded. To complete the deception, she becomes 

 still more clamorous as she retires from the nest, If very near, 

 she appears altogether unconcerned, and her cries cease in pro- 

 portion as her fears are augmented. When approached by dogs, 



