The Lapwing. 371 
endeavouring to imitate the actions of the fowler, and 
thereby falling into the snare laid for him ; but they 
ought to be entirely disbelieved. 
THE LAPWING, OE PEEWIT. 
( Vanellus cristatus.) 
This well-known bird is found in nearly all countries, 
and is of the size of a common pigeon. The female lays 
four or five eggs, of a yellow colour, varied all over with 
large black spots and strokes. Lapwings build their 
nests on the ground in the middle of some field or heath, 
open and exposed to view, laying only some few straws 
under the eggs : so soon as the young are hatched, they 
instantly forsake the nest, running away with the shell 
on their back, and following the mother, only covered 
with a kind of down, like young ducks. The parents 
have been impressed by nature with the most attentive 
love and care for their offspring ; for if the fowler, or 
any other enemy, should come near the nest, the female, 
panting with fear, lessens her call to make her enemies 
believe that she is much further off, and thereby deceives 
those that search for her brood ; she also sometimes pre- 
tends to be wounded, and utters a faint cry as she limps 
away, to lead the fowler from her nest. This bird is 
really beautiful, although it does not exhibit that gaudi- 
ness of colours of which other species of the feathered 
tribe can boast: it weighs about half-a-pound. The 
head, and the crest which elegantly adorns it, is black ; 
