138 WADING BIRDS. 



contemptible appellation of humility, by which they and some 

 other small birds of similar habits have been distinguished. 

 For the discovery of their food their flexible and sensitive awl- 

 like bills are probed into the mire, marshy soil, or wet sand, in 

 the manner of the Snipe and Woodcock, and in this way they 

 discover and rout from their hidden retreats the larvae and 

 soft worms which form a principal part of their fare. At other 

 times they also give chase to insects, and pursue their calling 

 with amusing alacrity. When at length startled or about to 

 join the company they have left, a sharp, short, and monoto- 

 nous whistle like the word peet or peep is uttered, and they 

 instantly take to wing and course along with their com- 

 rades. On seeing the larger marsh-birds feeding, as the 

 Yellow-Shanks and others, a whirling flock of the Peeps will 

 descend amongst them, being generally allowed to feed in 

 quiet ; and on the approach of the sportsman these little timo- 

 rous rovers are ready to give the alarm. At first a slender 

 peep is heard, which is then followed by two or three others, 

 and presently peet 'pip 'pip 'p'p murmurs in a lisping whistle 

 through the quailing ranks as th5y rise swarming on the wing, 

 and inevitably entice with them their larger but less watchful 

 associates. Towards evening, in fine weather, the marshes 

 almost re-echo with the shrill but rather murmuring or lisping, 

 subdued, and querulous call of peet, and then a repetition of 

 pe-dee, pe-d'ee, dee dee, which seems to be the collecting cry of 

 the old birds calling together their brood ; for when assembled, 

 the note changes into a confused murmur oipeet, peet, attended 

 by a short and suppressed whistle. 



At most times, except in the spring, they are fat and well 

 flavored, though less esteemed than many of the other species 

 from their smallness and an occasional sedgy taste which dete- 

 riorates them. From the oily and deliquescent nature of the 

 fat which loads the cellular membrane in this hyperboreal 

 natal family of birds, we may, perhaps, perceive a constitu- 

 tional reason why most of them thrive better and have such a 

 predilection for those cool and temperate climates in which 

 they renew their exhausted vigor and acquire the requisite 



