GAME-BIRDS ? 225 
known as ‘ colour protection,’ a wise plan of Heart of Na- 
ture for the benefit of the weaker species. If threatened 
danger does not pass by, then the old birds become 
aggressive, and sometimes fly at the intruder, be he 
man or animal. The peculiar call of the bird, ‘ Killdee- 
Killde-e-e-Killdeer,’ has given it its name, though it has 
several other cries when brooding and protecting its 
young. 
“The desire to protect this charming bird, that the 
National Association of the Audubon Societies is endeavour- 
ing to have made a law, state by state, is, after all, nothing 
new. Listen to what Audubon himself wrote about the 
Killdeer, beginning with the nesting time: ‘At this period 
the parents, who sit alternately on the eggs, never leaving 
them to the heat of the sun, are extremely clamorous at 
the sight of an enemy. The female droops her wings, 
emits her plaintive notes, and endeavours, by every means 
she can devise, to draw you from her nest or young. The 
male dashes over you in the air and vociferates all the 
remonstrances of an angry parent whose family is endan- 
gered. If you cannot find pity for the poor birds at such a 
time, you may take up their eggs and see their distress, 
but if you be at all so tender hearted as I would wish you 
to be, it will be quite unnecessary for me to recommend 
mercy.’ 
“So, children of the Kind Hearts’ Club, ask all those you 
meet to help put the little Killdeer upon the protected 
list; say that it is too small to be counted as food, and, 
in addition, whisper to every farmer you meet (and 
farmers north, south, east, and west should be interested, 
for the bird inhabits the whole of temperate North America), 
Q 
