30 STORIES OF BIRD LIFE 



on the mainland act in the same manner when I was near 

 their young. ^ ' 



Then they began to search among the shells. This 

 alarmed the j)arents so much that they determined to try 

 their last and best trick. The little mother ran up close 

 to the men, fell on her side and fluttered and cried as 

 though she were dying. The father bird, and two other 

 plovers who had a nest farther up the shore, ran to her 

 and rubbed her with their bills as if very anxious and so 

 sorry about her sickness. 



^^Look there," said the man who had spoken before; 

 ^ ^ that bird really is hurt. I have seen many kinds of birds 

 pretend to be injured, but have never seen two play differ- 

 ent parts in the same trick. ' ' 



So they tried to catch her. But Mrs. Plover seemed to 

 get better, and ran on for fifteen or twenty yards and then 

 appeared to be taken sick again. The other plovers gath- 

 ered about as before and put their bills under her as if 

 to raise and help the sick one. The men went hurrying 

 on, but the lady bird again recovered enough to run for 

 a little distance. Bib-neck saw them pass off among the 

 dunes, the four birds in front and the two men following 

 after. 



The young plovers grew very rapidly both in stature and 

 in wisdom, so that before the autumn came they were as 



