The Kill deer 
Cholame flats in San Luis Obispo County. The eternal Killdeer had 
challenged with the eternal killdeer killdeer dee dee deer. A little search 
had discovered the four handsome eggs; but the bird covered them so 
quickly after our remove, and in spite of the fact that I had flung my red 
bandana down within two feet of the nest, that we had instant visions of 
photographic possibilities. I stationed mysell within twenty feet of the 
nest, and watched the silent posturings of the female under the boiling 
noonday sun for nearly an hour. But wait as patiently as I might, she 
would not come within thirty feet, and she spent more time at fifty. Only 
one snap did I get on a decoy pose, though a thousand offered at too great 
range or behind too heavy a screen of grass. In noticing the posturing of 
the bird I was reminded of the hint dropped by a celebrated animal psy¬ 
chologist, who reported that monkeys, when close pressed by larger mem¬ 
bers of their tribe, invariably offered sex satisfaction as a ransom. I may 
be wrong, but it seemed to me that the display of fan-shaped tail, the 
quivering wings, and the amorous rolling of the bird was rather an erotic 
invitation than an appeal to the palate. Certainly there is lacking in the 
Killdeer decoy ruse the consistent carrying out of the broken-wing or 
broken-leg suggestion. It may also be that the play of this bird was half¬ 
hearted, both on account of the extreme heat—she was panting at the time 
—and my absolute apathy. Finally, in despair, I lay down in the grass to 
see if the bird ever would come nearer. Judge of my surprise on arousing 
five minutes later to find her sitting on the nest. As I rose to a sitting pos- 
Taken in San Luis Obispo County Photo by the Author 
RISING FROM NEST 
AND BREAKING FORTH IN INSTANT PROTEST 
1306 
