BRITISH BIRDS. 23 



long white hairs, which they gradually lose, and 

 about the latter end of July they acquire their 

 beautiful plumage. At this time they assemble in 

 nocks, which hover in the air, saunter in the mea- 

 dows, and, after rain, disperse among the ploughed 

 fields. In October, the Lapwings are very fat, and 

 are then said to be excellent eating. Their eggs 

 are considered as a great delicacy, and are sold in 

 London at three shillings a dozen. 



The following anecdote, communicated by the 

 late Rev. J. Carlyle, vicar of Newcastle, is worthy 

 of notice, as it shews the domestic nature of this 

 bird, as well as the art with which it conciliates the 

 regard of animals differing from itself in nature, 

 and generally considered as hostile to every species 

 of the feathered tribe. Two of these birds, given to 

 Mr. Carlyle, were put into a garden, where one of 

 them soon died; the other continued to pick up 

 such food as the place afforded, till winter deprived 

 it of its usual supply; necessity soon compelled it 

 to draw nearer the house, by which it gradually 

 became familiarised to occasional interruptions 

 from the family. At length a servant, when she 

 had occasion to go into the back-kitchen with a 

 light, observed that the Lapwing always uttered 

 his cry '-pec-wit' to obtain admittance. He soon 

 grew more familiar; as the winter advanced, he 

 approached as far as the kitchen, but with much 

 caution, as that part of the house was generally 

 inhabited by a dog and a cat, whose friendship the 

 Lapwing at length conciliated so entirely, that it 

 was his regular custom to resort to the fire-side as 

 soon as it grew dark, and spend the evening and 

 night with his two associates, sitting close by them, 



