I7S STORIES ABOUT BIRDS. 



less to procure. Its large strong feet are made for running, and it is constantly- 

 going up and down among the brushwood, from the top of the mountains to 

 the steep and stony gulhes below. 



It carries its tail erect, so that it can come to no danger. It has a loud 

 cry, which may be heard a long way off, and another note, which may be 

 called a song, but which cannot be heard unless you are close by. 



The naturalist goes through unheard-of toils to catch sight of the birds. 

 He lies hidden among the brushwood, and hears their loud shrill notes, for 

 days together, without being able to obtain a glimpse of them. Quite deter- 

 mined to do so, he does not give up his point, but climbs along the gullies and 

 ravines, where he has to cling to trees and creeping plants to keep himself 

 from falling. 



These are the spots where the birds often resort ; but if so much as a 

 branch cracks, or a stone rolls over, they take the alarm and are gone. Even 

 when the hunter has come up with one of them, he has to crawl among the 

 branches of the trees and remain perfectly motionless. If the bird is not 

 singing, or engaged in scratching for food, it is almost sure to perceive him if 

 he stirs either hand or foot, and it vanishes as if by magic. 



It runs with the utmost rapidity, aided by its wings, over rocks or logs of 

 wood, or whatever comes in its way. 



It does not often fly into a tree, except to roost. It scratches about the 

 ground and the roots of trees to pick up seeds and insects. Its nest is very 

 large, and a little like that of the magpie. There are twelve or sixteen eggs 

 in the nest, of a white colour, with a few light blue spots. The young birds 

 scamper about with the utmost rapidity, and hide themselves amongst the 

 rocks and bushes. In some places, where roads have been cut through the 

 bush, the bird is more frequently seen, and a man on horseback can approach 

 it more easily than when on foot. It seems less afraid of the horse than of the 

 man. Sometimes it is pursued by dogs, that are taught to rush suddenly 

 upon it when it leaps down from its roosting-place in the tree. And some- 

 times the hunter wears one of the beautiful lyre-like tails in his hat, and keeps 

 it moving about while he hides in the bushes. The bird is taken by surprise 

 at what he supposes to be one of his own species, and comes within reach 

 of the gun. 



Another way is to whistle, or make some unusual sound, upon which the 

 bird will come forth out of curiosity, and allow himself to be seen ; but unless 



