BIRDS AND MAN 49 



breed on the ground in open situations the 

 dangers to which bird and nest are exposed 

 are of different kinds, and, leaving out the case 

 of that anomalous creature, man, we see that 

 as a rule the bird's judgment is not at fault. In 

 one case it is necessary that he should guard 

 himself while trying to save his nest ; in another 

 case the danger is to the nest only, and he then 

 shows that he has no fear for himself. The 

 most striking instance I have met with, bearing 

 on this last point, relates to the action of a spur- 

 winged lapwing observed on the Pampas. The 

 bird's loud excited cries attracted my attention ; 

 a sheep was lying down with its nose directly 

 over the nest, containing three eggs, and the 

 plover was trying to make it get up. It was a 

 hot day and the sheep refused to stir ; possibly 

 the fanning of the bird's wings was grateful to 

 her. After beating the sheep's face for some 

 time it began pecking sharply at the nose ; then 

 the sheep raised her head, but soon grew tired 

 of holding it up, and no sooner was it lowered 

 than the blows and peckings began again. Again 

 the head was raised, and lowered again with the 

 same result, and this continued for about twelve 



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