90 
TOTANUS MACULARIUS. 
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are then covered with down of a dull drab colour, 
marked with a single streak of black down the middle 
of the hack, and with another behind each ear. They 
have a weak, plaintive note. On the approach of any 
person, the parents exhibit symptoms of great distress* 
counterfeiting lameness, and fluttering along the 
ground with seeming difficulty. On the appearance of 
a. dog, this agitation is greatly increased ; and it is very 
interesting to observe with what dexterity she will lead 
him from her young, by throwing herself repeatedly 
before him, fluttering off, and keeping just without his 
reach, on a contrary direction from her helpless brood. 
My venerable friend, Mr William Bartram, informs me, 
that he saw one of these birds defend her young for a 
considerable time from the repeated attacks of a ground 
squirrel. 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 forwards 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 tier, apparently sensible of 
their perilous situation, moving backwards and forwards 
as she advanced or retreated. This interesting 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 daring 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 forward from his retreat, drove the assailant 
back to his hole, and rescued the innocent from 
destruction. 
The flight of this bird is usually low, skimming 
along the surface of the water, its long wings making a 
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