KILDEES. 1 75 



immensely benefited. The opposite bank reached, 

 I instantly returned, considering after being five 

 minutes in the water, I had had enough ; for 

 nothing is so weakening as a protracted stay on such 

 an occasion. 



At the mouth of the pool in which I had bathed, 

 there was a point of sand, on which I saw several 

 kildees, a species of plover, and, being desirous to 

 note some of their peculiarities, I approached as 

 close as these pretty little birds would permit, with- 

 out their being driven to take wing. I remained 

 thus for a few minutes, giving all my attention to 

 their peculiarities, as, with swift, energetic move- 

 ments, they captured those unfortunate water-insects 

 that came within their reach. 



Their call, consisting of two notes, kil-dee, from 

 which their name is derived, is continuously re- 

 peated every few moments not even the important 

 duty of obtaining their morning repast being any 

 check upon their loquacity. A party of old women 

 over their loved cup of tea could not be more gar- 

 rulous. 



The shrill whistle of wings called off my atten- 

 tion, and I observed a pair of pintail duck (Anas 

 acuta) rapidly winging their way to fresh feeding- 

 grounds. Sprigtail, or pheasant-duck, for by all 

 these names is this species known is an elegant- 

 shaped, long-bodied bird, capable of sustaining the 

 fatigue of very protracted flights. To the dwellers of 

 the North, it is frequently the first harbinger who 



