60 
N£STS AND £GGS 0£ 
is tired, or is severely pressed by hunger, the other is summoned to the 
spot, to receive the charge of affairs. Thus the business goes on for 
eighteen weary days, when the happy parents are blessed with a jolly 
little family. 
The young are not the mere helpless creatures such as we have all 
along been describing, but as active beings, for the age, as it is j)ossible 
to conceive of. Clad in silken robes of drab, with beautiful stripes of 
black adown the back, they constitute a merry, rollicking group of birdies. 
The world to them is a paradise of beauty, and a garden-sjjot of pleasure. 
As soon as they leave the shell, they run with remarkable speed, and 
otherwise exhibit a precocity which seems unnatural at that period of life. 
Feeding, like running, is instinctive. It cannot be that it is learned by 
imitation, any more than the exercise of the cursorial powers can be said 
to be thus acquired. 
Although much of the trouble and care which birds generally bestow 
upon their offspring are thus saved to these fortunate parents, yet the 
power to discriminate between bad and good food, has to be learned by 
attention to the commands and actions of wiser heads. The young are 
not slow to j)rofit from parental suggestions and instruction, for we find 
them, at the expiration of a fortnight, engaged in foraging with the judg- 
ment and adroitness of adults. 
Few species exhibit symptoms of greater distress than these Sandpipers 
when their breeding-grounds are apjDroached by human beings. The 
parents resort to every conceivable stratagem in order to draAV the intrnders 
away. Counterfeiting lameness, and fluttering along the ground AAnth seem- 
ing difficulty, are two of the most characteristic devices Avhich they practise 
for this purpose. But the appearance of a dog considerably heightens the 
agitation. It is very interesting to watch the actions of the female on 
such occasions. In order to lead him aAvay from her terrified young, she 
throws herself before him, flutters away in a contrary direction, but always 
managing to keep out of the reach of danger. This she continues for some 
