A Book on Birds 



We follow — walking fast but very 

 stealthily — and they do not break into 

 flight until they reach an intercepting 

 lane, across which they wing their way, 

 uttering the quick, agitated cry from which 

 they take their name — ^^Killdeer, killdeer, 

 kiUdeer!'' 



They fly with an eccentric, irregular 

 motion, their dark pinions (with a crook 

 in them) showing snowy white underneath 

 as they go. 



In thus proclaiming their name they 

 are Hke a number of other birds that are 

 quite easy to identify simply because they 

 announce themselves in this way to all 

 strangers who are on the alert to hear. 

 Indeed, almost immediately, we come upon 

 another feathered friend (also not as well 

 known with us as he might be) who does 

 the same thing — the Towhee bird. 



This fellow reveals himself at the fence 

 (to which we have now returned) on the 

 other side of the meadow-brook. He is 

 probably first of the season, and his voice 

 is not strong as yet. But try to articulate 



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