310 THE LAPWING. 



field, we have found the distant ones rise at the pointing 

 of the stick, while those that were nearer did not. 

 Even upon shifting a stick from the usual way that a 

 walking stick, or a stick merely carried in the hand, is 

 carried, to that in which a sportsman carries his gun, 

 the rooks do not like it, and fly off to a distance. 

 The habits of the lapwing afford stronger instances of 

 sagacity than one would be led to expect ; and they are 

 evidence that, with proper care, it might be added to 

 the number of domestic birds. 



It has, indeed, often been partially tamed, and kept 

 in gardens for the purpose of clearing them of worms 

 and other insects. A case mentioned by Bewick throws 

 a good deal of light upon the habits of the bird : Two 

 were presented to a clergyman, who put them in his 

 garden for the purpose above mentioned ; but one of 

 them died in the course of the summer, and the other 

 remained shy and distant till the cold weather set in, 

 and its supply of food in the garden began to fail, when 

 it came to the door of the back-kitchen and sought 

 admittance by uttering its cry of peewit. As the winter 

 advanced, it gradually became more familiar, and ven- 

 tured to visit the kitchen ; though it was at first very 

 cautious, as a cat and dog were in possession. When 

 it found, however, that these were not disposed to be 

 hostile, it made companions of them, Cctme to the 

 kitchen every evening, and sat with them, enjoying 

 the warmth of the fire. It continued to do this during 

 the winter ; but when the summer came, it abandoned 

 the house, and betook itself to its insect-hunting in the 

 garden. When the winter again set in, it returned to 

 the house ; but without any of the caution that it had 



