Section 202. THE TWO SCHOOLBOYS, OR EYES AND NO EYES. II.
Reading edition
William.—A little further on I saw a green woodpecker[1] fly to a tree, and run up the trunk like a cat.
Tutor.—That was[2] to seek for insects which live in the bark of trees. For that purpose the woodpeckers bore holes into the bark with their strong bills, whereby they do[3] a great deal of damage to the trees.
William.—What beautiful birds they are[4]!
Tutor.—Yes; the woodpecker has, from its colour and size, been called the English parrot (S. 4, N. 4, man).
William.—When I got upon the heath, how charming it was[5]! The air was so fresh, and the prospect on every side[6] so free and unbounded! The heath was all covered with gay flowers, many of which I had never observed before. There were[7] at least three different kinds (S. 36, N. 7, A) of heath (I have them in my handkerchief here) and gorse, and broom, and bell-flowers; and many others of all colours, of which I will beg you presently to tell me the names[8].
Tutor.—That I will do readily.
William.—I saw, too, several birds that were new to me. There was a pretty grayish one, of the size of a lark, that was hopping about some great stones; and when he flew he showed a great deal of white above his tail[9].
Tutor.—That was a wheat-ear[10]. They are reckoned very delicious birds to eat[11], and frequent the open downs in[12] Sussex, and some other counties, in great number.
William.—There was a flock of lapwings upon a marshy part of the heath[13] that amused me much. As I came near them, some of them kept flying round and round[14], just over my head, and crying, “Pewit,” “Pewit,” so distinctly, one might almost fancy they spoke[15]. I thought I should have caught[16] one of them, for he flew as if one of his wings was broken (App. § 33), and often tumbled close to the ground; but as I came near, he always contrived[17] to get away.
Tutor.—Ha, ha! you were finely taken in, then[18]! This was all an artifice of the bird’s, to entice you away from its nest, for the lapwings build upon the bare ground, and their nests would easily be observed, did they not draw off[19] the attention of intruders, by their loud cries and counterfeit lameness.
William.—I wish I had known that[20], for the bird led me a long chase[21], often over shoes in water. However, this was the cause [davon, S. 161, N. 21] of my falling in with[22] an old man and a boy, who were cutting[23] and piling up turf for fuel. I had a great deal of talk with them about the manner of preparing the turf, and the price it sells at[24]. They gave me, too, a creature I never saw before—a young viper, which they had just killed. I have seen several common snakes, but this is thicker in proportion, and of a darker colour than they are.