64 THE NIGHT HAWK. 



quainted with the deception, will run after the bird, 

 not doubting but he can catch her in a moment ; but 

 she takes care to just keep out of his way, until she 

 leads him a good distance from the nest, when she 

 takes wing, and in a moment is out of sight. The at- 

 tention of the person is so taken with the bird, that he 

 seldom thinks of the eggs until she is out of sight, and 

 then it is too late, for he might search for hours, and 

 then only find them, when they were crushed under his 

 feet. 



The young birds, when hatched, are not more eas- 

 ily seen than the eggs, orHhe old one. They are cov- 

 ered with down of a pale brownish colour ; and look 

 so much like a little clod of mouldy dirt, that a person 

 would never suspect that they were living creatures 

 until he touched them. 



Perhaps there is not a more striking instance of the 

 effect of instinct in protecting its possessor from harm, 

 in the whole feathered creation, than is displayed by 

 this bird ; and it is doubted whether even man him- 

 self, under the same circumstances, could point out 

 any surer means of effecting the same end. 



Having no arms with which to protect itself, and 

 being destined by nature to lay on the ground, this 

 bird, as well as her eggs, would be peculiarly exposed 

 to destruction, did she not make use of all the means 

 in her power to prevent it. 



Birds, as well as other animals, are taught by the 

 God of Nature to take care of their young ; and as one 

 means of protection, they are taught by instinct where, 

 and how to build their nests, so as to make them as 



