AN EXCITING FORENOON 



action proved conclusively that he had just 

 alighted. 



However, this was but half the story. The 

 real miracle was yet to come. 



From the first instant the plover was evidently 

 much disturbed in his mind. Most likely he had 

 never before found himself so closely cornered. 

 I think he was as much surprised to see me 

 as I was to see him. As he came over the Es- 

 tero, his eyes probably fell upon the yellow-legs 

 and small sandpipers feeding so quietly. " This is 

 a promising place," he said to himself ; " suppose 

 I drop in." And behold, as his feet touched the 

 mud, here, standing over him, was this terrible 

 monster. 



Nevertheless, with all his wavering he held 

 his ground for a few moments, long enough for 

 me to scan him again and again from bill to tail. 

 Then, "This will never do," he thought; "high 

 time I was going " ; and away he went, sounding 

 that resonant musical whistle, so very sweet, 

 alas ! in the ears of all the large and honorable 

 tribe of shore-bird destroyers ; for this " beetle- 

 head," the prince of plovers, breeding on the 

 arctic shores of both continents, wanders at one 

 time and another over nearly the whole earth, 

 and wherever he goes, or wherever men are suffi- 

 ciently civilized to enjoy such refined, gentle- 

 63 



