274 Cultivation of Waste Land. 



the}^ can lay bare a whole nest with two or three 

 scratches, must afford much more food. Had it been 

 otherwise all the partridges in the neigliborhood 

 would have gathered together here ; but there never 

 seemed more than one or two coveys about. 



The peewits had nests year after year in this 

 place, and even when the nesting-time was over a few 

 might often be seen. The land for agricultural pur- 

 poses was almost valueless, there being so little 

 herbage upon which cattle could graze, and no pos- 

 sibility of mowing any ; so in the end gangs of labor- 

 ers were set to work and the ant-hills levelled, and, 

 indeed, bodily removed. Thus this last piece of 

 waste land was brought into use. 



Upon the Downs there is a place haunted by some 

 few peewits. In the colder months the^' assemble 

 in flocks, and visit the arable land where it is of a 

 poor cliaracter, or where there are signs of peat in the 

 soil. By the shores of the lake they may, too, be 

 often seen. I have counted sixty in one flock, and 

 have seen flocks so numerous as to be unable to 

 count them accurately ; that of course was excep- 

 tional, but the}^ are by no means uncommon birds in 

 this district. In others it seems quite a rare thing 

 to see a lapwing. 



They often appear to fly for a length of time 

 together for the mere pleasure of fl.ying. The}^ rise 

 without the slightest cause of alarm, and sail about 

 to and fro over the same field for half an hour, then 

 settle and feed again, and presentl}' take wing and 

 repeat the whirling about overhead. Solitar}' peewits 

 will do the same thing ; you would imagine the}' 

 were going oS at a great pace, instead of which back 



