482 CHARADRIID^E. 



THE LAPWING or PEEWIT is one of the best known among 

 our native birds ; the first name suggested by its peculiar 

 mode of flight, a slow flapping of its long wings ; the 

 second name having reference to the frequently-repeated 

 note of the bird, which the sound of the word peeweet 

 closely resembles. The French, in imitation of the sound 

 of its note, call this bird dixhuit. This species, like the 

 rest of the Plovers, inhabits marshy ground near lakes and 

 rivers, wild heaths and commons, or the hills of an open 

 unenclosed country. In such localities this bird is often 

 very numerous, and during the months of April and May 

 their eggs are sought after as a luxury for the table in all 

 the districts where the birds are common. The marshes of 

 Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire, Essex, and Kent, 

 afford a large proportion of the quantity with which the 

 the London market is supplied. Mr. Selby says, " The 

 trade of collecting them continues for about two months ; 

 and great expertness in the discovery of the nests is shown 

 by those accustomed to it ; generally judging of their situa- 

 tion by the conduct of the female birds, who invariably, 

 upon being disturbed, run from the eggs, and then fly near 

 to the ground for a short distance, without uttering any 

 alarm cry. The males, on the contrary, are very clamor- 

 ous, and fly round the intruder, endeavouring, by various 

 instinctive arts, to divert his attention." On this subject, 

 also, Mr. Salmon observes, " So expert have some men 

 become, that they will not only walk straight towards a 

 nest, which may be at a considerable distance, but tell the 

 probable number of eggs it may contain, previous to inspec- 

 tion ; generally judging of the situation and number of eggs 

 by the conduct of the female bird." In some counties, 

 however, all the most likely ground is carefully searched 

 for eggs, once every day, by women and children, without 



