J. F. Campbell Collection > Popular rhymes of Scotland

RHYMES UPON NATURAL OBJECTS. 161
peese-tveep, has attracted the attention of children, and been
signified in one of their rhymes —
Peese-weep — peese-weep !
Harry my nest, and gar me greet !
In the north, where the lapwing- is called the teuchit, the
boys' rhyme is —
Tliieves geit — thieves geit !
Harry my nest, and awa' wi't !
These rhymes have at least the merit of being- very appro-
priate to the character of the bird. The lapwing makes its
nest upon the ground, in lonely and desolate situations;
and when any human being' approaches, it comes flying
near, with its wailing peevish cry, resembling the words,
WJio are you? and endeavours, by fluttering hither and
thither, to lead the intruder away from its lowly home.
In certain parts of Scotland, there is a traditionary anti-
pathy to the bird, and it is held as unlucky, on account
of its having sometimes served, during the persecuting
times, to point out the retreats of the unfortunate Presby-
terians, who had, for conscience' sake, made themselves its
companions on the wild.
Quick they disperse, to moors and woodlands fly,
And fens that hid in misty vapours lie ;
But though the pitying sun withdraws his light,
The lapwing's clamorous whoop attends their flight :
Pursues their steps where'er the wanderers go,
Till the shrill scream betrays them to the foe.
Poor bird ! where'er the roaming swain intrudes
On thy bleak heaths and desert solitudes.
He curses still thy scream, thy clamorous tongue.
And crushes with his foot thy moulting young :
In stern vindictive mood, he still recalls
The days, when, by thy mountain waterfalls,
Beside the streams with ancient willows gray.
Or narrow dells, where drifted snow-wreaths lay.
And rocks that shone, with fretted ice-work himg.
The prayer was heard, and Sabbath psalms were sung.
Leyden's Scenes of Infancy.
7 h ttO THE SEA-GULL.
Sea-gull, sea-gull, sit on the sand,
It's never good weather when you're on the land.
THE CHAFFINCH.
The plaintive note of the sheelfa or sheely (chaffinch) is