BIRDS OF PEASEMARSH 



small, but big and powerful looking and beauti- 

 fully marked. It is only in flying that the Kill- 

 deer's plumage shows to advantage. But they 

 do not fly far. The chances are they will alight 

 on the first stone or mound they come to and 

 wait until your approach and then trot along 

 ahead again, flying only when you have almost 

 reached them. 



They nest in the fields, if four eggs on the 

 ground could be called a nest, and in such un- 

 protected spots are their eggs frequently found 

 that one wonders that little Killdeer are ever 

 hatched. Sometimes they do not even take the 

 precaution of laying their eggs on the sod, 

 often in seeding time they are found on the 

 ploughed land. One day when the men were 

 rolling a field they came upon a Mrs. Killdeer 

 sitting upon her four clay coloured eggs. They 

 moved the eggs, Mrs. Killdeer following, 

 though protesting, and settling down upon 

 them when they were placed upon the ground 

 again. Before the field was sown the eggs 

 were moved four times, yet in due course the 

 little family was hatched. 



Of all the odd-looking little creatures the 

 baby Killdeer are the oddest. Their little 

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