Lev. xi. 19.LAPWING, in Latin, Upupa, a Bird by Moses declared to be unclean. A Lapwing is about as large as a Thrush; its Beak is long, black, thin, and a little hooked; its Legs are grey and short. Upon its Head it has a Tuft of Feathers of different Colours, which it raises or lowers as it pleases. Its Neck and Stomach are something reddish. Its Wings and Tail black with white Streaks. The Hebrew Name of this Bird is Dukipha. The Septuagint and Saint Jerom translate it Lapwing.
It is very beautiful, but does not sing, it only makes a hoarse Noice, which is heard at some Distance. Its Wings do not terminate in a Point like those of other Birds, but in a Round, which makes it very slow in its Flight. Pliny calls the Lapwing Trimestris, because it is to be seen only three Months. It retires, in all Probability, betimes into warmer Countries. It rarely pearches, and lives generally in old Ruines, or along the high Ways. It is said to feed upon Worms and human Excrements, and to make its Nest of them. Aristotle affirms, that it does not build any Nest, but only retires into the hollow Parts of Trees, and that it lays its Eggs there without any other Preparation. It generally lays three Eggs, which are like a Partridge’s. Albertus Magnus relates, that Lapwings when they grow old live with their Young, which feed them during the moulting Season, when they have cast their Feathers; and that when they have lost their Sight, they recover it for them, by the Help of an Herb which is naturally known to them, and with which they touch the Eyes of their old ones. The The Male has a fuller and higher Tuft than the Female, and the Colours of its Feathers is brighter and more lively. There is no such Thing as a Lapwing to be seen in any Part of England, but there are abundance of them in Germany.