Plumage and its Meaning 



of a worm coming to the surface, is quite conspicuous ; as 

 he perches in the shadow of some nearby shrub, even the 

 vigilant cat may pass him by unnoticed. 



Desert birds are, with, we believe, a single exception, all 

 sand-coloured. Some of them so closely resemble their 

 surroundings that they rarely seek safety in flight, but 

 crouch on the sand and rely on their resemblance to the 

 desert soil for safety. Often very interesting modifications 

 of plumage to suit the surroundings may be observed in 

 the same species of bird. On this subject, a well-known 

 naturalist, writing of the crested larks which he observed 

 during a journey from the Algerian coast to the desert, 

 remarks : " They gradually became browner and browner 

 in plumage as we left the cultivated districts behind and 

 entered the Sahara, until on the actual desert itself the 

 individuals of this species presented a rich sandy brown, 

 hue, so utterly different from the colour characteristic of 

 the cultivated coastlands that naturalists have separated 

 them into several well-recognised races." 



Shore birds are equally well protected as regards colour. 

 The little ringed plover, who so cunningly conceals its 

 eggs, is a good example. Conspicuous as this natty bird 

 appears when divorced from its haunts, it is difficult to 

 detect as it runs hither and thither on the shingle by the 

 seashore. We have often observed these conspicuously 

 marked birds alight on an expanse of shingle and have 

 searched for them through powerful field-glasses without 

 being able to detect their whereabouts, yet one would 

 think that their black and white markings would show 

 up well. Even the brightly hued oyster-catcher is well 

 camouflaged as he goes about his business on the shore. 

 Many of these shore birds nest inland and at that season 

 assume plumage which would render them plainly visible 

 on the sand and shingle. The knot and dunlin have this 

 habit, but after the nesting season they always don their 

 sombre garb so that they may fish unmolested by the sea 

 during the summer and autumn months. 



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