LAP 
It differs alfo very eflentially as to the degree of 
light, which in this Fly is lb very ftrong, as in the 
darkeft night to anfwer every purpofe of a candle. 
The head of this creature, ftriftly fpeaking, is very 
fhort, not exceeding the length of one of the rings 
of the body, if meafured from it's junftion v-'iih 
the corfelet to it's union with the lantern; but, if 
that part be accounted a portion of the head, then 
the head is equal in length to the whole body. 
This lantern, which is of an oblong fqu are figure, 
has near it's origin a large protuberance that gives 
it a bunched or humped look. The ground- 
colour is an olive-brown; and on the under-fide a 
large rib runs the whole length, and divides it in 
two. Over each of the eyes there is a round gra- 
nulated prominence, apparently a colleftion of 
fmaller eyes; and, if fo, this infe£l is fupplied with 
the organs of vifion in a different manner from ail 
others : but, in order to come at a perfeft knov/- 
ledge of this curious circumftance, it is ncceffiry 
that the creature fliould be examined alive, and on 
the fpot. The upper pair of wings are dotted 
with white in feveral places, and variegated near 
their origin with feveral blackifh fpots; and the 
under pair, which are more tranfparent than the 
upper, confiderably fhorter, and broader, have alfo 
a large beautiful round fpot of a pavonaceous co- 
lour near the extremity of each. The irides are 
brown and olive ; the laft colour being very bright 
and clear, and the other duflcy and obfcure. 
LAP-DOG. A fpecies of the rnoll generous 
kind of dog; called by Caius, the Spaniel Gentle; 
and by others, the Melicsus and Fotor. Pennant 
obferves, that the Maltefe litde dogs were as much 
cfteemed by the ladies of ancient times as thofe of 
Bologna are among the moderns; and Holingfhed 
is pointedly fevere on the ladies of his days, be- 
caufe of their exceffive paffion for thefe little ani- 
mals : v/hich amounts to pofitive proof that, in the 
reign of Queen Elizabeth, Lap-Dogs were not 
perfe^iily naturalized. 
LAFLYSIA. A genus of the mollufca order 
of worms; the chara61ers of which are: that the 
body is covered with reflex miembranes ; that there 
is a Ihield-like membrane on the back, and a late- 
ral pore on the right fide for the genitals; that the 
vent is fituated on the extremity of the back ; and 
that there are four feelers, which refemble ears. 
There is only one knovm fpecies which has ob- 
tained the name of the fea-hare. 
LAPTHIATL An appellation given by the 
natives of Lemnos to a fpecies of ferpent, fuppofed 
by Bellonius to be the fame with the elaps, or 
elaphis, of antiquity. 
LAPWING; the TringaVanellus of Linnssus. 
A well-known bird, fometimes called the baftard 
plover; and by Latinifts, capella and vanellus. 
This beaudful bird, which frequents the heaths 
and marfliy grounds of almoft every part of this 
kingdom, builds a flight inartificial neft on the 
ground, and lays four eggs of an olive caft fpotted 
with black. It may not be improper to remark 
» that, among water-fowl, congenerous birds always 
lay the fame number of eggs: for example; all of 
this tribe lay four a-piece; plovers the like num- 
ber; the puffin genus only one; and the duck 
tribe in general from eight to twenty. 
The weight of the Lapwing is about eight 
' ounces, the length thirteen inches and a half, and 
the expanfion of the wings thirty inches. The 
bill, which is about an inch long, is black; the 
crown of the head and the creft are of a fhining 
L A R 
black colour, the latter confiding of about twenty 
flender unwebbed feathers of equal lengths, the 
longcfc being four inche-- the cheeks and fides of 
the neck are white; and beneath each eye there is 
a black line. The throat and fore-part of the 
neck are black; the hind-part of the neck is an 
admixture of v/hite, cinereou?, and red; the back 
and fcapulars are of an elegant gloffy green co- 
lour, the latter finely variegated with purple; the 
ieffcr coverts of the wings are of a refplendent 
black blue and green hue; the greater quill- 
feathers are black; the upper half of the leffer 
quill-feathers is black, the lov/er being v/hite; and 
the breaft and belly are white. The vent and co- 
verts of the tail are orange-coloured ; the tail is 
compofed of twelve feathers, of which the two ex- 
terior ones are white; the upper half of the re- 
mainder is black tipt with a dull white, and the 
lov/er half is pure white. The legs are red; and 
the irides are hazel-coloured. 
The young Lapw ings run about as fcon as they 
are hatched. The regard fiiewn them by their 
parents is very remarkable: they fiy round them 
with great anxiety and clam.our; llrike at either 
men or dogs who approach them; and praftife va- 
rious artifices in order to allure them from their 
nefts. The eggs, which are efteerned a peculiar 
delicacy, are frequently fold at three ikiilings a 
dozen. 
Thefe birds, which are feen in vafi: flocks dur- 
ing the winter feafon, become very wild, though 
extremely fat, tlieir food confifting of infc6ls and 
worms. About Oftober and November, they are 
taken in the fens by means of nets. In fome parts 
of this ifland they are migratory. They arrive in 
the northern parts of Scodand about the month of 
April ; and, after they have bred and reared their 
young, immediately prepare for a retreat. For the 
fpace of a week or ten days before they finally 
leave that country for the winter, they are obferved 
to collect in large flocks; to fly backwards and 
forwards, as if with an intention of trying the 
ftrength of their young before they undertake their 
expedition; and, after a variety of convolutions 
and clamorous exhortations, to direft their flight 
to the fouthward, where the weather is lefs fevere, 
and their food more plentiful. 
LARK. In the Linnsean fyfcem, the Lark is 
a difl:in<fl: genus of birds of the order of pafferes; 
the charafters of which are : the tongue is bifid, 
membranaceous and pointed, and furnifhed with 
a rim or margin round it; the beak is fcraight, 
pointed, and bent towards the extremity; the 
claw of the hinder toe is confiderably the longeftj 
the toes are all divided to their origin; and the 
nofl:rils are covered v/irh feathers or brillies. 
There are various fpecies. 
Lark, Commow, or Sky-Lark; the Alauda 
Arvenfis of Linnzeus. This fpecies is about feven 
inches in length, and twelve and a half in breadth ; 
and weighs about one ounce and a half. The bill 
is flender ; the upper mandible is duflcy, and the 
lower yellow; the crown of the head is of a reddiih 
brown colour, fpotted with black; and the hind- 
part of the head is cinereous. The feathers on the 
back and the coverts of the wings are duiky, 
edged with a reddifli brown; the upper part of 
the breaft is yellow, fpotted with black ; and the 
lower part of the body is a pale yellow. The legs 
aredulky; the foles of the feet are yellow; and 
the hind-claw is very long and fl:raight. The 
male is diftinguifhed from, the female by being of 
a deeper 
