332 ORALLY. CHARADRIADJE. 



struck with its flatness and closeness to the ground ; 

 and I saw how it is that we so often hear their cry 

 very near, when we can see no trace of them, and 

 often suddenly lose sight of them when watching 

 them running. I feel assured that this squatting 

 is the bird's natural resource for concealment; for 

 on being alarmed suddenly, its first impulse is to 

 bend partially the heel, bringing the body nearer the 

 ground ; if the danger appear to increase, it brings 

 the tarsi flat, the tibiae still being inclined; the 

 body seems now in contact with the ground; but 

 a greater terror brings it still lower, so that it really 

 appears as if half sunk in the earth ; and now no 

 advance of the danger affects it, if there be no open- 

 ing to run ; it lies quite passive ; its resource is 

 exhausted. 



My captive lay thus unmoved for a while, though 

 the restless Pea-doves, in running from side to side, 

 walked over it, trampling it under foot at every 

 turn. "When it did get up, however, and came to 

 the front, it was again instantly assaulted by the 

 Bald-pate, who struck it with his wing, and seized 

 its beak with his own, and pinched it. Pitying it 

 under these inflictions, I took it out, and allowed it 

 to run about the room. Its actions now became 

 quite entertaining ; it ran backward and forward 

 with surprising fleetness, but, not being used to the 

 smoothness of board, though the floor was not at all 

 polished, and wanting the support of the back-toe, 

 its speed was continually causing it to slip, the feet 

 sliding forward, so as to bring the bird down upon its 

 tail. Now and then it would stop, and make re- 



