WHITE-BREASTED WEET-WEET. 35.3 



The young run about immediately after exclusion from 

 the egg, conceal themselves by squatting motionless among 

 the stones, and are anxiously tended by their parents. If 

 discovered and pursued, they sometimes betake themselves 

 to the water, and swim like young gulls in similar circum- 

 stances. The old birds, too, should they drop into the 

 water when wounded, float and swim as if it were their 

 proper element. 



From the manner in which this bird continually vibrates 

 its body, as if on a pivot, joined with its piping notes, the 

 Hebridians name it the Little Fiddler. Its food consists of 

 insects of all kinds, and the gizzard usually contains sand or 

 small stones. 



Mr. Thompson notes it as " a regular summer visitant to 

 the lakes, rivers, and brooks throughout Ireland." 



Young.- — At first the young are covered with long stiffish 

 down of a brownish-grey colour above, with a brownish- 

 black band down the back, the lower parts white. When 

 fledged they are light greyish-brown above, the feathers 

 margined with two bands, the one dusky, the other reddish. 

 The fore part and sides of the neck are greyish, with faint 

 dusky lines ; the rest of the lower parts white, excepting 

 the lower tibial feathers, which are dusky. The wings and 

 tail are coloured as in the adult; the feet more yellow, and 

 the bill bluish. 



