210 



FACTS AND FANCIES 



cape. The young, therefore, cannot have bee'n 

 instructed in it by the method of example. But 

 the small size of the chick, together with its ob- 

 scure and curiously-mottled coloring, are spe- 

 cially adapted to this mode of concealment. 

 The young of all birds which breed upon the 

 ground are provided with a garment in su' h 

 perfect harmony with surrounding effeots of 

 light as to render this manoeuvre easy. It 

 depends, however, wholly for its success upon 

 absolute stillness. The slightest motion at once 

 attracts the eye of any enemy which is search- 

 ing for the young. And this absolute stillness 

 must be preserved amidst all the emotions of 

 fear and terror which the close approach of the 

 object of alarm must, and obviously does, in- 

 spire. Whence comes this splendid, even if- it 

 be unconscious, faith in the sufficiency of a 

 defence which it must require such nerve and 

 strength of will to practise? No movement, 

 not even the slightest, though the enemy should 

 seem about to trample on it, — such is the ter- 

 rible requirement of nature, and by the child 

 of nature implicitly obeyed. Here, again, be- 

 yond all question, we have an instinct as much 

 born with the creature as the harmonious tint- 

 ing of its plumage, the external furnishing be- 



