216 CURSORES. 
in number, and of a cream color, with markings of 
brown and black. During the period of incubation, 
and immediately after the hatching of the young, the 
old birds manifest much anxiety at the approach of 
danger. The female endeavors by the usual strata- 
gem of feigned lameness to entice the intruder away, 
while the male wheels about overhead in an excited 
manner, uttering his most earnest entreaties or his 
most angry reproofs, in hopes no doubt of averting 
the ruin of his family. 
The Kildeer is in every respect a beautiful bird. 
Whether seen at a distance, sailing or diving with 
such graceful ease through the buoyant air, or whether 
upon a nearer view we look upon the lively tints of 
his exquisite plumage, we cannot but feel that he 
too is worthy of our notice, and to become the wel- 
come companion of our rambles. 
Among the many active little Sand Pipers to be 
seen upon our coasts in the Spring and Autumn, are 
the Red-breasted Sand Piper, the Purple Sand Piper, 
the Red-backed Sand Piper, and the Semi-palmated 
Sand Piper. Let us see what we can find out in re- 
lation to some of them. Of the Red-backed Sand 
Piper Audubon says: “In Autumn and Winter, this 
species is abundant along the whole range of our 
coast, wherever the shores are sandy or muddy, from 
Maine to the mouths of the Mississippi; but I never 
found one far inland. Sometimes they collect in 
flocks of several hundred individuals, and are seen 
wheeling over the water near the shores or over the 
beaches, in beautiful order, and now and then so close 
