42 AFFECTIONATE PARENTS. 



pyriform, sometimes a little lengthened, are clay -color, marked with 

 blotches and spots of umber and sienna brown, thickest at the greater 

 end (where in some specimens they are confluent), and measure about one 

 inch and a third in length by one inch in width. 



The nest presents so little to catch the eye that yon may look long and 

 not discover that it is close to your feet. The young appear during the 

 first days of June (in the middle parts of the United States), and run about 

 with wonderful speed as soon as they leave the shell, covered with a down 

 of dull gray, marked with a single streak of black down the back, and an- 

 other behind each ear. Their cry is weak aud plaintive. 



The parents are greatly distressed by the approach of any person to 

 their nest, and exert themselves by counterfeiting lameness, and by other 

 frantic movements, to lead the intruder away and prevent its exposure. 

 Mr. William Bartrarn — America's White of Selborne — told Alexander 

 Wilson a pleasant story of how he saw one of these sand-pipers defend her 

 young against the attacks of a ground-squirrel, though it strikes me that it 

 is not the ordinary habit of chipmunks to attempt to devour young birds: 



" The scene of action was on the river shore. The parent had thrown 

 herself, with her two young behind her, between them and the land ; and 

 at every attempt of the squirrel to seize them by a circuitous sweep, raised 

 both her wings in an almost perpendicular position, assuming the most 

 formidable appearance she was capable of, and rushed forward on the 

 squirrel, who, intimidated by her boldness and manner, instantly retreated ; 

 but presently returning, was met, as before, in front and on flank, by the 

 daring and affectionate bird, who, with her wings and whole plumage 

 bristling up, seemed swelled to twice her usual size. The young crowded 

 together behind her, apparently sensible of their perilous situation, mov- 

 ing backward aud forward as she advanced or retreated. This interest- 

 ing scene lasted for at least ten minutes; the strength of the poor parent 

 began evidently to flag, and the attacks of the squirrel became more dar- 

 ing and frequent, when my good friend, like one of those celestial agents 

 who, in Homer's time, so often decided the palm of victory, stepped for- 

 ward from his retreat, drove the assailant back to his hole, and rescued 

 the innocent from destruction." 



This bird is not uncommonly seen also in western Europe, while it 

 winters in Central and South America and the West Indies, departing 

 thither in October. 



The spotted sand-piper is small — about seven and a half inches long — 

 and has a straight, slender bill an inch in length, and grooved on each 

 side; the legs and toes are reddish yellow aud rather long, the. outer- 



