112 CHARADRIIDiE. 



like that of the wind-hover or kestrel, is highly attractive j and 

 the occasional habit of the species, when on the ground, of throwing 

 up vertically its singularly formed and beautiful wing, is not with- 

 out its interest. The crest of this bird (according to an observant 

 shooter) is always borne proudly erect during the breeding season ; 

 but in autumn and winter is carried horizontally, as the species is 

 generally figured. 



Sir Walter Scott, in the " Tales of my Grandfather," refers 

 to the persecution of the lapwing in the following words : — " The 

 country people retained a sense of the injustice with which their 

 ancestors [the Covenanters] had been treated, which showed itself 

 in a singular prejudice. They expressed great dislike of that 

 beautiful bird the green plover, in Scottish called the peaseweep. 

 The reason alleged was, that these birds being, by some instinct, 

 led to attend to and watch any human beings whom they see on 

 their native wilds, the soldiers were often guided in pursuit of the 

 wanderers, when they might otherwise have escaped observation, 

 by the plover being observed to hover over a particular spot. 

 For this reason the shepherds often destroyed the nests of the 

 bird when they met with them.'" 2nd vol., chap, vi., 2nd series. 

 In YarrelFs History of British Birds there is a very interesting 

 account of an opposite kind, in which the founder of the 

 family of Tyrwhitts having fallen wounded in a skirmish, was 

 saved by his followers, who were directed to the spot where 

 he lay by the cries of these birds, and their hovering over him, 

 vol. ii., 483, 2nd edit. 



An encounter between a rook and a pair of lapwings was once 

 witnessed by Mr. Poole, " when the former must either have been 

 intent on booty or on enjoying the sport of terrifying the anxious 

 parents. So often as they were seen to drive him away did he 

 return to renew the combat." In the ' British Naturalist ' 

 (vol. i. p. 305) there is a graphic account of the lapwing's 

 performance, when the egg-plundering grey crow visits its breed- 

 ing haunt. On the shore they do not, however, display such 

 gallantry, as I have seen the black -headed gull drive them quite 

 away when they approached its feeding ground. 



