Page:The British Warblers A History with Problems of Their Lives - 4 of 9.djvu/61

 so, her natural impulse being to remain motionless, concealed, if possible, by rushes or vegetation of some description. It is when she is surprised or suddenly alarmed that her excitement becomes so great. I have remained quietly within a few feet of her by the side of a dyke, while her young swam hurriedly away, and no alarm was exhibited until some sudden movement was purposely made on my part, when she would flutter away, behaving in the usual manner, her legs appearing to have lost their strength, a result, I believe, often brought about by loss of balance owing to her haste and attempts to utilise legs and wings at the same time. The behaviour of the Avocet (Recurvirostra avocetta) is interesting, partly on account of the extreme beauty of the bird, but principally because of the numerous and peculiar attitudes that are assumed. Their breeding in colonies adds much to the interest, since it is not one but often a number of individuals that perform at the same time.

As the nests are approached the excitement of the different members of the colony becomes intense, the pretty cry is uttered continuously, and the individuals whose nests are threatened settle on the ground, expand their wings in a semicircle, spread and lower their tails, lower their heads, and with their back feathers raised move hurriedly along the ground. Then lying quietly for a few moments with wings expanded they will, perhaps, rise to some height in the air and swoop down at the intruder. Thus they have approached within a foot of my head. Again coming towards the ground, they will settle and run rapidly about with their wings raised over their backs, or in a crouching attitude with wings carried loosely, tail fully expanded, and back feathers raised, will move about more slowly. When they spread their wings over their backs they sometimes raise and lower them alternately, thus appearing to sway from side to side. At other times they remain motionless with wings expanded horizontally either in deep or shallow water; in fact, it is difficult to imagine any possible position of the wings which is not at one moment or another assumed.