Clafs'lt LAPWING. '3&: 



black. It is worthy of notice, that among water 

 fowl, congenerous birds lay the fame number of eggs ; 

 for example, all of this tribe, alfo of the plover3, 

 lay four a-piece ; the purlin genus only one ; and the 

 duck tribe, in general, are numerous layers, pro- 

 ducing from eight to twenty. 



The young as foon as hatched, run like chickens : 

 the parents fhew remarkable folicitude for them, 

 flying with great anxiety and clamour near them, 

 linking at either men or dogs that approach, and 

 often flutter along the ground like a wounded bird, 

 to a confiderable diftance from their neft, to elude 

 their purfuers •, and to aid the deceit, become more 

 clamorous when mod remote from it : the eggs are 

 held in great efteem for their delicacy ; and are fold 

 by the London poulterers for three millings the dozen. 

 In winter, lapwings join in vail flocks •, but at that 

 feafon are very wild : their flefh is very good, their 

 food being infects and worms. 



Their weight is about eight ounces : the length Defer<j 

 thirteen inches and a half: the breadth two feet and 

 a half. The bill is black, and little more than an 

 inch long : the crown of the head of a mining black- 

 nefs : the creft of the fame color, confiding of about 

 twenty (lender unwebbed feathers of unequal lengths, 

 the longed are four inches : the cheeks and fides of the 

 neck are white ; but beneath each eye is a black line: 

 the throat and fore part of the neck are black i the 

 plumage on the hind part mixed with white, afh~ 

 color and red : the back and fcapulars are of a mod 

 elegant gloffy green ; and the latter finely varied with 

 purple : the lefler covert feathers of the wings are of 



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