WADING BIRDS. 
138 
contemptible appellation of humility, by which they and some 
other small birds of similar habits have been distinguished. 
For the discovery of their food their flexible and sensitive awl- 
like bills are probed into the mire, marshy soil, or wet sand, in 
the manner of the Snipe 'and Woodcock, and in this way they 
discover and rout from their hidden retreats the larvae and 
soft worms which form a principal part of their fare. At other 
'times they also give chase to insects, and pursue their calling 
with amusing alacrity. When at length startled or about to 
join the company they have left, a sharp, short, and monoto- 
nous whistle like the word feet or peep is uttered, and they 
instantly take to wing and course along with their com- 
rades. On seeing the larger marsh-birds feeding, as the 
Yellow-Shanks and others, a whirling flock of the Peeps will 
descend amongst them, being generally allowed to feed in 
quiet ; and on the approach of the sportsman these little timo- 
rous rovers are ready to give the alarm. At first a slender 
peep is heard, which is then followed by two or three others, 
and presently pcet pip pip PP murmurs in a lisping whistle 
through the quailing ranks as they rise swarming on the wing, 
and inevitably entice with them their larger but less watchful 
associates. Towards evening, in fine weather, the marshes 
almost re-echo with the shrill but rather murmuring or lisping, 
subdued, and querulous call of peet, and then a repetition of 
pe-dee, pe-d'ee, dee dee, which seems to be the collecting cry of 
the old birds calling together their brood ; for when assembled, 
the note changes into a contused murmur oipeet, peet, attended 
by a short and suppressed whistle. 
At most times, except in the spring, they are fat and well 
flavored, though less esteemed than many of the other species 
from their smallness and an occasional sedgy taste which dete- 
riorates them. From the oily and deliquescent nature of the 
fat which loads the cellular membrane in this hyperboreal 
natal family of birds, we may, perhaps, perceive a constitu- 
tional reason why most of them thrive better and have such a 
predilection for those cool and temperate climates in which 
they renew their exhausted vigor and acquire the requisite 
