is never far from some stream or other body of water. This 

 nearness to water is necessary that the parent birds may easily 

 obtain food for themselves and their young. It consists of 

 worms and insects found at the water's edge. If frightened 

 from her eggs, the mother flies away without making a sound ; 

 but if her young are about her, she tries the trick common to 

 some other birds of fluttering away as though injured. This 

 gives her family time to hide, and so like the ground is the 

 color of their gray coats that the little ones are seldom found. 



BIRD NOTES 



103 



