A PUGNACIOUS BIRD. 
443 
season he seems to be an ornitho- 
logical compound of the shrill fish- 
wife, the pugilist, and the mounte- 
bank. He allows no intruders within 
his temporary domain. Even the 
combative rook finds in him a master. 
And then he is as active as he is 
pugnacious. When on the attack or 
the watch, the dexterity and rapidity 
of his flight are really remarkable. 
He does not seem the same bird as 
he whom we whilom saw dabbling 
in the clear cool waters of the burn, 
and leisurely regaling on a worm 
or fly. He rises with a bold sweep 
above his adversary, and then 
swoops down with a rush and a 
scream, as if he would bear him to 
the earth. Then, when the tres- 
passer has been driven into retreat, 
he joins his mate in a kind of airy 
dance or fantasia, very curious to 
see. 
It is said by a French ornitholo- 
gist, that whoever has had oppor- 
tunities of observing the ways and 
habits of the lapwing soon learns 
to love him ; and yet he some- 
times excites the wrath of thought- 
less man. The sportsman abhors 
the vip-ilant bird which so often 
warns the water-fowl of the pres- 
ence of an enemy ; but then to such 
an one as the present writer, who is 
no sportsman, he is always a favourii 
LAPWINGS IN THE STREAM. 
object of study, whether he walks 
