CHAPTER XV 



THE SHORE BIRDS AND WADERS 



THOUGH the Killdeer belong to the order 

 of shore birds and waders when with us, 

 fortunately for the farm, they spend 

 more time in the pasture than along the shore. 



There are some pairs of Killdeer that have 

 nested here for many years and have become so 

 tame that they will run along directly in front 

 of us when we go out to catch the horses or 

 drive in the cattle. As runners they excel most 

 other birds. They will run along over the 

 ground until a stranger might suppose it was 

 their only way of crossing that field and that 

 their wings must indeed be small and weak. 

 Then, suddenly, they will raise their wings and 

 fly, not high, but usually just above the ground. 

 If they have been startled they will utter a 

 peculiar note of alarm at the moment they 

 cease to run and spread their wings to fly. 



Their wings are a surprise to those who have 

 only seen them run. They are by no means 

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