SHARP EYES. 51 



and leaves, and bits of black or dark-brown bark, were 

 all exactly copied in the bird's plumage. And then 

 she did sit so close, and simulate so well a shapeless 

 decaying piece of wood or bark! Twice I brought 

 a companion, and guiding his eye to the spot, noted 

 how difficult it was for him to make out there, in full 

 view upon the dry leaves, any semblance to a bird. 

 When the bird returned after being disturbed, she 

 would alight within a few inches of her eggs, and 

 then, after a moment's pause, hobble awkwardly upon 

 them. 



After the young had appeared all the wit of the 

 bird came into play. I was on hand the next day, 

 I think. The mother-bird sprang up when I was 

 within a pace of her, and in doing so fanned the 

 leaves with her wings till they sprang up too; as 

 the leaves started the young started, and, being of 

 the same color, to tell which was the leaf and which 

 the bird was a trying task to any eye. I came the 

 next day, when the same tactics were repeated. Once 

 a leaf fell upon one of the young birds and nearly 

 hid it. The young are covered with a reddish down, 

 like a young partridge, and soon follow their mother 

 about. When disturbed, they gave but one leap, 

 then settled down, perfectly motionless and stupid, 

 with eyes closed. The parent bird, on these occa- 

 sions, made frantic efforts to decoy me away from 

 her young. She would fly a few paces and fall upon 

 her breast, and a spasm, like that of death, would 

 run through her tremulous outstretched wings and 



