2-18 



Fig. 208. Little sandpipers are beautiful little mites, covered 

 ■with soft down. They run very swiftly and hide most effectively. 



some gray squirrel ; he would take a few, graceful bounds 

 towards us, then stop and search about him — ever coming 

 nearer. ]\Iy sandpiper friend left her nest and ran to meet 

 him, which she did about ten yards from her nest. Then 

 began the prettiest bit of bird-strategy I ever seen. A bird 

 actually wounded could not act the part any better than 

 she did ; he kept springing toward her, possibly in play, 



