THE FAMILY OF WADERS. 243 



understood by us, an injury to which results surely 

 in death, and that an instantaneous one. I have 

 examined many a bird that has been killed by 

 shock, but have never been able to find any injury 

 sufficient to account for this. They have all been 

 in good condition and fine plumage, not one feather 

 out of place, nor a single drop of blood oozing 

 from the mouth ; yet for all that, one and all were 

 killed by what to me has appeared a most trifling 

 accident. 



In hard weather that is, in real hard times the 

 larger members of the family are somewhat hard 

 set, but the small waders manage to pull through. 

 The case must be desperate, indeed, if these get 

 in poor condition; for their food -supply consists 

 of the smallest creatures : these their wonderful 

 nimbleness and activity enable them to capture 

 as they follow the ebbing tide or trip along the 

 edge of fresh - water rivers, lakes, and streams. 

 Their attractive forms always fascinated me as a 

 boy, so did their wonderful legs and feet. Most 

 admirable and perfect studies they will be to the 

 end of my life, showing how admirably every crea- 

 ture is fitted with the exactly suitable means of 



