318 THE SMALLER WADERS. [CHAP. vi. 



legion of hydra-heads ; destroy one knot of ravagers, 

 and another forthwith starts to supply its place. 



I cannot agree with those who place the Lapwing 

 high in the list of edible birds. 



" Qui n'a mange de Vanneau 

 Ne scait pas ce que gibier vaut/' 



may be a true proverb in a country where Pheasants 

 and Partridges are shot on the nest to be roasted after- 

 wards * : but no lady, I hope , who, on the strength of 

 these words, shall admit a pair of captive Lapwings 

 into the sacred inclosure of her flower-garden, will cease 

 to be pleased with their engaging and serviceable ways, 

 as long as she can baffle the jealousy of Puss. 



Indeed, the whole tribe of the smaller Grallatores 

 are appropriate and amusing inmates of the turf-floored 

 aviary, where they are secure from the attacks of any 

 overbearing enemy, either beast or bird. Poiffs and 

 Beeves may be specially mentioned : their plumage is 

 so frequently changing its style ; the fashion of their 

 dress varies so rapidly ; and no two birds are scarcely 

 ever alike. The main requisites to keep them, and 

 such like, in health, are, besides their grassy floor, a 

 pan of mould well replenished with earth worms, and 

 in defect of them, with chopped meat, and a pan of 

 water to dabble and play in. A very small space will 

 suffice for not a few individuals. 



Mr. W. Rayner has had several of them in his 

 possession. " The Golden Plover," he informs me, 

 "I kept only for a short space of time. I had only 

 one or two of these birds, which were shot in the wing. 



* See that amusing book, " O'Connor's Field Sports of France," 

 for the way in which game is treated there. 



