CRESTED LAPWING. 157 



rection, standing on high or straight legs, and inclining 

 its head downwards ; it runs with ease and velocity. Be- 

 fore it takes wing it lengthens its neck, and with a spring 

 raises itself from the ground ; on alighting it precipitates 

 itself with a rolling motion, and skims before touching the 

 ground. 



Sociability is one of the virtues of this species, as may 

 be gleaned from their keeping together, which they also 

 practise during the breeding season to a much greater ex- 

 tent, for on the approach of an enemy they aid each other 

 in mobbing even the larger birds from their neighbour- 

 hood, and thus watch not only for their own safety and 

 that of their nest and young, but also for that of every 

 member of their congregation in concert. When the party 

 roosts, during the middle of the day, some remain awake 

 in order to give due notice of danger, and on the alarm 

 note being given they all take wing in an instant. 



The Lapwing is very careful of its plumage, keeps it 

 always in good order, and very frequently oils it all over 

 with the secretion of fat near the tail ; the result of this 

 is that rain-drops invariably run off its plumage. The pro- 

 cess the feathers undergo during the performance of greas- 

 ing is very beautiful to watch ; the beak being supplied 

 with the oil, the feathers are carefully drawn through it, 

 and lastly the head is also rubbed by laying it backwards 

 and smoothing the plumage in general. 



The principal food of the Lapwing consists in worms 

 and insects, beside the larvae of many species that are found 

 in abundance on meadows and pasture lands. One means 

 practised by them of obtaining worms in the morning early 

 is by looking for worm casts, and treading the ground 

 around them in order to induce the worm to show itself, 

 when by its dexterity the bird is almost certain to catch 



d 



