TENTATORES. PROBERS. 63 



himself. The Greenshank and Redshank, as well as most 

 of the Totaninae, act differently. They come clamouring up 

 from a great distance, wheel, and plunge, and glide, scream- 

 ing and scolding without intermission, alarm all the timid 

 animals within at least a quarter of a mile around, and the 

 nearer you approach their nest, the more extravagant are 

 they in their rage. Perhaps the object of this kind of pro- 

 ceeding is to intimidate their ordinary enemies, such as 

 hawks and small quadrupeds ; but it certainly tends to 

 betray their secret to man, who might pass by unconscious 

 were they to remain quiet and keep out of sight. 



As to the Herons, they could defend themselves from 

 most birds, were they active enough ; but a crow or a jack- 

 daw will sometimes carry off an egg from an uncovered nest, 

 while other Herons are by, and if they attempt to catch the 

 thief, they only make fools of themselves. The Skulkers, 

 such as Coots, Water-hens, and Rails, are never bold enough 

 to face an enemy of any vigour, as a Polecat or Weasel, but 

 keep running or swimming about. When their young are 

 with them, however, they manage much better : for when an 

 alarm-click is uttered by the mother, all the chicks scatter 

 about, dive, and in some concealed place each puts up its 

 head just far enough to be able to breathe, and the parent 

 bird does the same ; or they get among the thick reeds and 

 equiseta, where they are secure enough ; or squat among 

 the herbage. 



I do not think that any British bird uses stratagem or 

 deceit for any other purpose than that of protecting its eggs 

 or young. It is alleged that the Jay and the Butcher Bird 

 imitate the cries of various birds with the view of alluring 

 them to destruction ; but this object is merely conjectural, 

 whatever may be their motive for the mimicry. " The 

 Flusher, Lanius Collurio," Mr. Rennie says, " is said to lure 

 small birds within its beat by mimicking their notes ; — 

 a feat of ingenuity not borne out by any observation we have 

 been able to make, though our attention has been for five 

 summers directed to this point, in a district where the 

 species abounds. We have, on the contrary, ascertained 

 that the Flusher utters no call that has the most distant 



