308 THE LAPWING. 



the males, before the pairing be satisfactorily adjusted ; 

 when that is done, all animosity ceases, and they com- 

 bine in beating off formidable enemies, when such come 

 upon their ground. The nest is on the dry surface, 

 but generally not far from some pool or marsh, in which 

 a supply of food may be found. It is very simple, 

 merely a little bed of the withered grass which has 

 been bleaching in the storms of winter ; but the sim- 

 plicity of the nest, and the resemblance of its colour 

 to that of the ground on which it is placed, conceal it 

 better than a more artificial structure ; and what with 

 that, and what with the manoeuvres of the parents, there 

 are, perhaps, fewer lapwings' nests robbed than of any 

 other birds. The eggs are four, of an olive colour, with 

 black spots ; and they are very neatly arranged, with 

 the small ends, which terminate nearly in points, all in 

 contact at the middle of the nest. While the female is 

 sitting, the male, when not occupied in finding food, 

 and that is chiefly got in the evening, acts as sentinel, 

 and very artfully decoys boys or dogs, and as boldly 

 drives away birds, from the vicinity of the nest. If he 

 should not be in the way, the female herself is abun- 

 dantly vigilant ; spies the intruder a good way off, and 

 if he be coming in the direction of her eggs, goes off 

 to meet him. She does this as fast and silently, and as 

 far from the nest as possible ; but still it is done with 

 a great deal of art and tact. She does not go in a 

 straight line, but works traverses, like a ship beating 

 to windward, or a besieging party approaching a fort ; 

 and " puts about" whenever she thinks she has been 

 observed. When she gets sufficiently far from the 

 nest, and near the visitor, she springs up in fluttering 



