158 MATESHIP WITH BIRDS 



Support is added this supposition when one 

 considers the ways of such birds as the Black- 

 fronted Dottrel and White-fronted Chat. Each 

 of these ground-dwellers is boldly marked with 

 black and white on the breast, w r hile the back 

 is colored in drab harmony with the habitat of 

 the bird. It is, beyond all doubt, this factor of 

 protective coloration that each bird relies upon for 

 safety; the boldly-marked breast is kept carefully 

 turned away from the observer, and the obscuring 

 effect of the duller plumage is really wonderful. 

 You get the same cause and effect in the case of 

 the old-world Lapwing, which, by the way, is the 

 original "Peewit," or "Peewee," names commonly 

 applied, by reason of a similarity in calls (rather 

 than in color and flight), to our black and white 

 Magpie-Lark. 



Moreover, while black and white fronted birds of 

 the ground lack the straight-out fighting ability of 

 the more prominent pied species, Nature has given 

 them (in addition to the modicum of protective 

 coloration in respect of both plumage and eggs) the 

 compensatory power to avert danger from their 

 nests by means of a lure. Who that has met the 

 little "Nun" (Chat) at its nest will forget the 

 splendid artistry of the pretty creature in feigning 

 to be injured? At the first sign of possible danger 

 to eggs or young, they both sexes practise the 

 ruse, and sometimes several birds join forces 

 will go fluttering and tumbling along in most 

 realistic fashion, meanwhile uttering cries pitiful 

 enough to suggest the throes of death. Was this 

 device evolved for confusion of the children of 



