THE LAPWING 93 



for his purpose, and with extreme difficulty 

 he managed to descend the slippery trunk 

 carrying two struggling hawks. 



I am not telling this tale as an account 

 of a feat to be imitated ; but as an example 

 of boyish daring. To climb the tree in safety 

 once would have been remarkable ; to do so 

 with impunity four times was wonderful. 



No one who has crossed a moor or open 

 down can have failed to observe the Lapwing 

 (Vanellus vulgaris). Its long-drawn cry of 

 1 pewit ' has given it another name, and its 

 habit of enticing enemies from the neighbour- 

 hood of its nest by feigning inability to fly, is 

 so well-known, that it serves as a means of 

 ascertaining the vicinity of a nest. This is a 

 primitive affair, usually consisting of bent or 

 grass laid in a hollow or furrow. There are 

 four eggs (Plate VII., Fig. 2), dark olive- 

 brown with blackish blotches, and they are 

 often to be seen in the market exposed for 

 sale as those of the plover. 



The Kook (Corvus frugilegus) is another 

 familiar bird. It places its nest in a tree. 

 The structure, which, with a little repair, 

 serves year after year, is made of sticks 



G 



