E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Lapwing (The).
Shakespeare refers to two peculiarities of this bird; (1) to allure persons from its nest, it flies away and cries loudest when farthest from its nest; and (2) the young birds run from their shells with part there of still sticking to their head.
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“Far from her nest the lapwing cries away.”
Comedy of Errors, iv. 2.
“This lapwing runs away with the shell on his head.”—Hamlet, v. 2.
