. Birds that hunt and are hunted; life histories of one hundred and seventy birds of prey, game birds and water fowls . mall plovers likewise haunt the beaches, their plumage in autumnbeing precisely the color of the wet sand they constantly runabout on in small scattered flocks. When the tide goes out,their activities increase. Birds that have been hiding in themarshes and sand dunes now trip a light measure over the ex-posed sand bars and mud flats, leaving little tracks that may notbe distinguished from those of the sand ox-eye or semipalmatedsandpiper that hunts with them, although the plo
. Birds that hunt and are hunted; life histories of one hundred and seventy birds of prey, game birds and water fowls . mall plovers likewise haunt the beaches, their plumage in autumnbeing precisely the color of the wet sand they constantly runabout on in small scattered flocks. When the tide goes out,their activities increase. Birds that have been hiding in themarshes and sand dunes now trip a light measure over the ex-posed sand bars and mud flats, leaving little tracks that may notbe distinguished from those of the sand ox-eye or semipalmatedsandpiper that hunts with them, although the plover has onlythree half webbed toes. The small, slightly elevated fourth toeof the ox-eye is only faintly evident at times in its tracks. Tiny forms chase out after the receding waves, running injust in advance of the frothing ripples that do not quite overtakethem, although the plovers almost never spring to wing as sand-pipers do when a drenching threatens, but place all their trust intheir fleet legs. With such feet as theirs, they must be able toswim; but who ever sees them in deep water ? More silent, too, 244. ■ ! f 4*..-•?,> / ># m l/if:\ aj ■A- ■* W Plovers than sandpipers, it is chiefly when alarmed that two plaintive,sweet, but sometimes sharp notes escape them, whereas sand-pipers keep u>p their cheerful peep, peep, under all danger summons the scattered flocks of ring-necks to winginto a compact mass that moves as if swayed by one mind; but likemost birds that nest too far north to become acquainted withmurderous men, these gentle, confiding little plovers suspect noevil intentions and rarely fly away. Running to hide by squat-ting behind tufts of beach grass stills their small fears. In the interior, for an inland route is followed as well as acoastwise one, the ring-neck runs about the margins of small lakesor ponds, rivers and marshes, everywhere looking for worms,small bits of shell fish, eggs of fish, and insects; always alert
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Keywords: ., book, bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, booksubjectuplandgamebirds
