BRITISH BIRDS. 
3^7 
fuch food as the place afforded, till winter deprived 
it of its ufual fupply ; neceflity foon compelled it 
to draw nearer the houfe, by which it gradually be- 
came familiarifed to occafional interruptions from 
the family. At length, one of the fervants, when, 
fhe had occafion to go into the back-kitchen with a 
light, obferved that the Lapwing always uttered 
his cry c pee-wif to obtain admittance. He foon 
grew more familiar; as the winter advanced, he 
approached as far as the kitchen, but with much 
caution, as that part of the houfe was generally oc- 
cupied by a dog and a cat, whofe friendlhip the Lap- 
wing at length conciliated fo entirely, that it was 
his regular cuftom to refort to the firefide as foon 
as it grew dark, and fpend the evening and night 
with his two affociates, fitting clofe by them, and 
partaking of the comforts of a warm firefide. As 
foon as fpring appeared, he left off coming to the 
houfe, and betook himfelf to the garden; but on the 
approach of winter, he had recourfe to his old fhel- 
ter and his old friends, who received him very cor- 
dially. Security was productive of infolence ; 
what was at firft obtained with caution, was after- 
wards taken without referve ° a He frequently amu- 
fed himfelf with walking in the bowl which was 
fet for the dog to drink out of, and while he was 
thus employed, he fhewed marks of the greateft 
indignation if either of his companions prefumed 
to interrupt him. He died in the afylum he had 
Y 4 
