154 The Ottawa Naturalist. [Nov. 



bird left its eggs while the dog was some distance away, but 

 with cattle it waited until almost touched before moving, so that 

 its sudden appearance was more startling. 



It would, of course, be a fatal mistake were the latter 

 method employed to drive away a dog, or coyote ; while the 

 former would prove useless as a means of preventing cattle 

 from treading upon the eggs. Hence, two habits to gain the 

 same end. 



It might be asked how a bird had acquired so much wisdom 

 in being able to distinguish between an enemy which would eat 

 both bird and eggs if opportunity offered, and a generally harm- 

 less cow from which the only danger would be of accidentally 

 treading upon the eggs. And also, how it had learned to employ 

 methods of defence so totally different. I believe the answer is 

 this. Before the advent of civilization the prairies were in- 

 habited by countless numbers of buffaloes, while coyotes as well 

 as foxes were also more numerous than they are to-day. The 

 Killdeer is a bird that nests in open spots, usually on dry low 

 hills not far removed from water. Consequently, the eggs and 

 young would often come in contact with these mammals, and 

 if the parent bird did not resort, to some artifice, their offspring 

 would often suffer. The parents which contended most success- 

 fully with enemies would naturally rear more young. Thus, 

 by the "survival of the fittest" the instinct — I believe it is 

 an instinct — has been acquired. I have observed these birds 

 practise both methods with success when contending against 

 crows, but man, they rank with coyote and dog and only feign 

 injury. They consider — unfortunately rightly — that we are 

 not to be trusted. 



The American Goldfinch, often wrongly called Wild Canary, 

 nests very late in the season, in spite of the fact that in some 

 parts of the country, such as at Ottawa, it is a permanent 

 resident. I remember puzzling over the reason of this late 

 nesting until it occurred to me that the young were fed principally 

 upon the seeds of wild sunflowers and similar plants such as 

 Gaillardia, burdock, thistle, etc. Then the reason became 

 plain: these birds waited until the seeds were ripe so that they 

 would have an abundance of food both for their young and for 

 themselves, during the breeding season. In Manitoba the sun- 

 flowers are much preferred, and I believe this is due partly to 

 the birds' plumage harmonizing so remarkably with the flowers. 

 Earlier in the season they feed to a large extent upon dandelions 

 and Gaillardia seeds, both vellow-flowering plants. 



