SHARP EYES. 15 



for it builds no nest, — two elliptical whitish spotted 

 eggs lying upon the dry leaves. My foot was within 

 a yard of the mother-bird before she flew. I won- 

 dered what a sharp eye would detect curious or char- 

 acteristic in the ways of the bird, so I came to the 

 place many times and had a look. It was always a 

 task to separate the bird from her surroundings, 

 though I stood within a few; feet of her, and knew 

 exactly where to look. One had to bear on with his 

 eye, as it were, and refuse to be baffled. The sticks 

 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, 



