STOEIES ABOUT BIRDS. 197 



pursue her, instead of her young. At tlie 

 same time she utters notes of alarm, well un- 

 derstood by the little ones, who dive separately 

 among the tall grass, and hide till the danger is 

 over. The parent, having decoyed the pursuer 

 to a convenient distance, returns by a circuitous 

 route, collects her young, and leads them off 

 to a place of safety. This manoeuvre, in nine 

 cases out of ten, perhaps, is successful. 



Two young quails that were brought up by 

 a hen, when abandoned by their foster-mother, 

 formed a friendship for the cows. They fol- 

 lowed them to the field in the morning, con- 

 tinued with them all day, and returned with 

 them at evening. These quails remained with 

 the cows during the winter, lodging in the 

 stable; but as soon as spring came, they were 

 missing. They doubtless left their domestic 

 life for one more natural to them, and more in 

 accordance with their notions of things. 



During a violent storm of rain and hail, a 

 female quail, attended by several young ones, 

 tried to spread her wings, so as to shield them 

 all. The storm increased. The hail came 

 down thick and fast upon the poor mother. 

 But still she kept her position. She would 

 not move, for fear of exposing her little ones. 

 There she staid^ until she was killed. 



