IQO 



Bird - Lore 



YOUNG TOO LARGE TO BE BROODED, PROTECTED BY 

 MOTHER FROM CHILE WIND 



occasionally took headlonj^j tumbles when tripped up by grass-blades. Their 

 note was a low, rusty squeak which often escaped human ears altogether, 

 although the actions of the mother showed that she heard it. Faint as this 



whispered note was, 

 it seemed to be the 

 means of the family 

 keeping track of each 

 other. 



Father Sandpiper 

 ceased his song- 

 flights now and 

 helped keep the 

 young warm. It was 

 a cause of much 

 surprise when it was 

 found that the par- 

 ents made no effort 

 to feed the young. It 

 was soon seen, how- 

 ever, that such care was not necessary. The young would stumble about and 

 pick up minute gnats and flies with great dexterity, and the shallow algae- 

 rimmed pools furnished them many a juicy 'wriggler.' One thing was evi- 

 dently considered very important by the parents during the colder hours of 

 the day: The young must be thoroughly warmed by hovering at intervals not 

 exceeding five minutes. 



It snowed the night of July 3, and the fourth was cold and gusty with a 

 chill wind off the ice which was still 4 feet thick around our ship. The youngest 

 Sandpiper was missing that morning and was probably frozen in the snow, 

 although the parents seemed to take equal care of all their children. 



Soon after this the largest youngster became very headstrong, insist- 

 ing upon running about 

 as long as it pleased with- 

 out being brooded. His 

 father's patience was 

 worn out at last, so he 

 reached over and pecked 

 his wayward offspring on 

 the top of the head until 

 it was glad to stick its 

 head down in the grass to 

 escape the blows. Then the 

 father brooded it with un- 

 usual care and solicitude. ^.^^^^^ sandpiper and her four young 



