136 



FAMILIAR WILD BIRDS. 



generally upon clear nights, or during "evening's 

 twilight/' 



When storms occur, or under certain other circum- 

 stances, climatic or otherwise, they will assemble in flocks, 

 wheeling around, uttering their wailing cry of "peewit, 

 peewit/' They also collect in large flocks in the autumn. 



They can hardly be called migratory birds, although 

 they often make considerable changes in the localities they 

 affect. This may be for reasons of food. They, however, 

 spread over the country in the succeeding spring, and per- 

 form their duties of incubation as already described. 



The Lapwing may be kept easily in a garden or enclo- 

 sure ; and in the former it is really of great service, as it 

 will destroy the worms and slugs, or such-like insects, that 

 infest gardens ; and, besides, they are somewhat of an 

 ornament, as they are handsome birds. Of course, it is 

 needless to say that they must have their wings clipped. 



