THE KILLDEER 



487 



regarded as the ideal environment for these eggs. An upland gravel-bed, 

 peculiar to that region, was composed of disintegrating fragments of a light 

 brown lava mingled with the soil. Each pebble of the bed was scrawled 

 and spotted by a black lichen, as tho tar had been carelessly flung about. 

 Upon this bed reposed four Killdeer eggs. When you saw them you saw 

 them, because their outlines were rounded instead of angular; but the moment 

 the eye departed from them the search had to be commenced anew, so per- 

 fectly were the eggs mimicked by their surroundings. 



EST AND EGGS OF THE KILLDEER. 



legs, and these carry them pattering away, before the embryonic juices are 

 fairly dried upon their backs. They need to be nimble, for all nature turns 

 teeth to little birds that cannot fly. 



Fortunatelv for them the flesh of the Killdeer is not esteemed for food 

 by humans, so they are allowed to gather in peace into fall companies con- 

 taining a score or two of individuals. The Killdeer is not gregarious at other 

 times of year, altho a half dozen pairs may nest in the same field; but in 

 fall thev flock commonly, and are found about meadow ponds, river liars, 

 ard even on the lake beaches. 



