58 Ways of Wood Folk. 



repeated at frequent intervals, the object being, appar- 

 ently, to accustom the young birds to hide instantly 

 when danger approaches. 



So watchful is the old bird, however, that trouble 

 rarely threatens without her knowledge. When the 

 young are well hidden at the first sign of the enemy, 

 she takes wing and leaves them, returning when dan- 

 ger is over to find them still crouching motionless in 

 their hiding places. When surprised she acts like 

 other game birds, — flutters along with a great splash- 

 ing, trailing one wing as if wounded, till she has led 

 you away from the young, or occupied your attention 

 long enough for them to be safely hidden ; then she 

 takes wing and leaves you. 



The habit of hiding becomes so fixed with the 

 young birds that they trust to it long after the wings 

 have grown and they are able to escape by flight. 

 Sometimes in the early autumn I have run the bow of 

 my canoe almost over a full-grown bird, lying hidden 

 in a clump of grass, before he sprang into the air and 

 away. A month later, in the same place, the canoe 

 could hardly approach within a quarter of a mile 

 without his taking alarm. 



Once they have learned to trust their wings, they 

 give up hiding for swift flight. But they never forget 

 their early training, and when wounded hide with a 

 cunning that is remarkable. Unless one has a good 



