222 GRALLATORES. VANELLUS. Lapwina. 
of collecting them continues for about two months, and great 
expertness in the discovery of the nests is shewn by those 
accustomed to it ; generally judging of their situation by the 
conduct of the female birds, who invariably, upon being dis- 
turbed, 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 clamorous, and fly round 
the intruder, endeavouring, by various instinctive arts, to 
divert his attention —The young, when hatched, are covered 
with down of an ochreous yellow, mixed with brown: they 
are assiduously attended by the parents, who lead them to 
the softer parts of the soil, where food is more abundantly 
obtained. At this interesting period, when engaged in their 
parental duties, these birds must have attracted the attention 
of most persons, from the extreme anxiety they display, and 
the devices they practise, in order to draw off either man or 
dog from the vicinity of their callow brood. After the young 
are fully grown, and able to fly, they assemble in large flocks ; 
gradually, as autumn approaches, deserting the interior of 
the country, and moving nearer to the coast. Here they 
chiefly frequent the fallow grounds and turnip fields, re- 
maining (with allusion to the northern counties) till Novem- 
ber, or even later, should the weather continue mild or open ; 
but, in case of severe frost, most of them retire, and pass 
the rest of the winter farther to the southward. In Northum- 
berland they re-appear, towards the end of February or the 
beginning of March, in small flocks ; from which, having se- 
parated and paired, they spread themselves over the face of 
the country. At this season their flight (particularly that of 
the male birds) is very peculiar, being subject to a variety 
of evolutions, in the course of which they frequently dart 
perpendicularly upwards to a considerable height, then 
throwing a summerset, as it would seem, in the air, suddenly 
descend almost to the ground, along which they course with 
many turnings and great velocity, till the same manceuvre is 
repeated. .These movements are attended by a loud hissing 
5 
