354 The Plover-like Birds 



fifty yards, he suddenly dashes in a zigzag, downward flight, with a violence and 

 rapidity unsurpassed by even the most aerial species in their maddest moments, 

 and turning like lightning when almost touching the surface, he rises, to repeat 

 the action again and 1 again." The often-repeated note, which resembles the 

 word pee-weet, has gained for it the name of Peewit in many parts of England. 

 The nest, placed in a meadow, heath, or pasture, is a slight depression in the 

 soil and perhaps lined with a few grass stems. The eggs are four in number, 

 of an olive-green color, thickly spotted with black and brown; they are highly 

 esteemed as food. These birds, in common with others of the order, have the 

 habit of feigning injury when the nest or young are approached. 



Cayenne Lapwing. Closely allied, indeed sometimes placed in the same 

 genus, is the Cayenne Lapwing (Belonopterus cayennensis] of northern South 

 America, where, from its oft-repeated cry, it is also known as the Teru-teru. It 

 is slightly larger and has a large reddish spine on the wing, but is otherwise quite 

 similar to the European Lapwing. It is a resident and exceedingly abundant 

 species on the great pampas, its rather pied plumage, red legs, crimson irides, 

 rosy black-tipped bill, and coral-red wing-spurs making it a noticeable bird. It is 

 of a spirited, aggressive disposition, a veritable tyrant among birds, and is engaged 

 in constant warfare against most living creatures, " its special abhorrence being 

 men, dogs, Rheas, and birds of prey generally." They usually pair for life and 

 become so much attached to one spot that they absolutely refuse to be driven 

 out even when the ground is turned up by the plow, swept by the parching dust- 

 storms of summer or the cold gales of winter. Yet they are withal birds of un- 

 doubted joyous spirits, and Mr. Hudson has given a very entertaining account 

 of a curious march that they are constantly indulging in. One bird leaving its 

 mate flies to the vicinity of another pair, who "welcome it with notes and signs of 

 manifest pleasure. Advancing to the visitor, they place themselves behind it, 

 and then all three, keeping step, begin a rapid march, uttering loud drumming 

 and rhythmical notes at regular intervals. The march ceases, the leader stretches 

 out his wings, still emitting loud notes, while the other two, with puffed-out 

 plumage, standing exactly abreast, stoop forward until the tips of their beaks 

 touch the ground, and, sinking their voices to a murmur, remain for some time 

 in this singular position. The performance is then over; the birds all resume 

 their natural attitudes, and the visitor takes his leave." The nest is a shallow, 

 circular hollow on the level plain and lined with a few grass stems; the eggs, four 

 in number, are olive-green spotted with black. The old birds are very ingenious 

 in diverting attention from the nest, sometimes trying to intimidate the enemy 

 by loud cries and violent dashes; again feigning lameness or injury, or running a 

 little distance from the real nest, they appear to arrange an imaginary nest. Two 

 other species of this genus are also found in southern South America. 



Crocodile Bird. We may turn again to the Old World and mention briefly 

 a number of other Lapwings, first among them the far-famed Crocodile Bird, or 

 more properly the Egyptian Spur-winged Lapwing (Hoplopterus spinosus). 

 It is a three-toed bird about thirteen inches in length, the general color above 

 being chrome with a slight purplish gloss, while the greater wing-coverts, parts 



