THE LAPWING, OR PEEWIT. 



519 



which tlie bird is so readily known. The breast is light brown, and the abdomen as well as 

 the upper tail-coverts, is white. Tlie quill-feathers of the wings are dark blackish-brown, and 

 the deeply forked tail is white at its basal half, and dark blackish-brown to the tip. 



The very rare bird which, on account of its speed of foot and the color of its plumage, is 

 termed the Ceeam-colored CoirKSER, is found even less frequently than the preceding 



species. 



It seems to live chieiiy in Barbary or Abyssinia, though specimens have been obtained from 

 almost every country in Europe. One of these birds, shot in Kent, was lemarkable for its 





CREAM-COLORED COURSER— Ayas agyptia. 



boldness. When the gun that was aimed at it missed tire, the bird only flew away for a short 

 distance, and then alighted within a hundred yards of the gunner. It ran with great velocity, 

 ]ncking up objects from the ground in its course, and it was with difficulty raised from the 

 ground so as to afi'ord a fair shot. The note of this species is very peculiar, and is uttered 

 on the wing. 



The crown of the head is fawn, fading into gray behind, and the chin is white. From the 

 eye over the ear-coverts is a black curved streak, and immediately above it is a similar white 

 streak. The whole upper parts of the body are pale reddish-brown, the primary feathers of 

 the wing are jetty-black, and there is a curious black spot near the end of each tail-feather. 

 Tlie whole under surface is cream-white, becoming white on the under tail-coverts. Both sexes 

 are similarly colored, and the total length is rather more than ten inches. 



The well-known Lapwing, or Peewit, is celebrated for many reasons. Its wheeling, 

 flapping flight is so peculiar as to attract the notice of every one wdio has visited the localities 

 in wMch it resides, and its strange, almost articulate, cry is equally familiar. When it fears 

 danger, it rises from the nest, or rather from the eggs, into the air, and continually wheels 

 around the intruder, its black and white plumage flashing out as it inclines itself in its flight, 

 and its mournful cry almost fatiguing the ear with its piercing frequency. "Wee- whit! 

 wee-e whit ! " fills the air, as the birds endeavor to draw away attention from their home; and 



