202 Our Bird Fr/exds. 



uttering a cry soiiiethinj^" like the iiie\vin<^ ot a 

 cat. One low note uttered by a Waterlien whilst 

 with her younjg in a reed bed is just like the sound 

 made by a horse munching hay. The note of the 

 Turtle Dove is so like the croak ot a frog that I 

 have known people take one for the other : and 

 the hiss of a member of the Tit family whilst 

 sitting on its nest in a hole in a tree is so snake- 

 like and unbird-like that many a l)oy has been 

 deceived by it and frightened away. 



The bal)y chicks of some species know the call 

 and alarm notes of their parents directly they leave 

 the eggshell, as may be easily discovered by an3'one 

 who will take the trouble to stud}^ the habits of 

 such a common bird as the Peewit. And h<»w 

 obedient many of these downy youngsters are to 

 their parents! Last spi-ing I spent a good many 

 hours in an artiricial nibl)ish heap watching the 

 antics ot" a nuiiiber of Kedslianks that had young 

 ones on the boy'^'V^ land aroimd nie. The bii-ds 

 would shriek danger to their chicks for an liour 

 after they had watched me into my hiding place, 

 and the wee things would obey the call as a rule 

 and keep (piite still, although such a proccetling 

 nuist have been exceedingly wearisome to these 

 active creatures. Whenever one ventured to dis- 

 obev orders its parents flew close over its head and 

 uttered a loud ringing note which sounded exactly 

 hke Down, down, dotru ! and the adventurer sought 

 the friendly cover of the rough grass. 



