Ornithological biography, Vol. 4 (of 5) : $b An account of the habits of the birds of the United States of AmericaAudubon, John James
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Ornithological biography, Vol. 4 (of 5) : $b An account of the habits of the birds of the United States of America
Audubon, John James
Birds -- North America
grass, almost exactly their colour, it is with careful search very
difficult to discover them, so that in nine times out of ten, they
would be overlooked, and only be endangered by the tread, which they
would endure sooner than betray their cautious retreat.
“At a later period the shores and marshes resound with the quick,
clear, and oft-repeated note of peet weet, peet weet, followed up by
a plaintive call on the young, of peet, peet, peet? peet? If this is
not answered by the scattered brood, a reiterated ’weet, ’weet, ’weet,
’wait, ’wait, is heard, the voice dropping on the final syllables.
The whole marsh and the shores at times echo to this loud, lively, and
solicitous call of the affectionate parents for their brood. The cry,
of course, is most frequent toward evening, when the little family,
separated by the necessity of scattering themselves over the ground in
quest of food, are again desirous of reassembling to roost. The young,
as soon as hatched, run about the grass, and utter from the first
a weak plaintive peep, at length more frequent and audible; and an
imitation of the whistle of peet weet, is almost sure to meet with an
answer from the sympathizing broods, which now throng our marshes. When
the note appears to be answered, the parents hurry, and repeat their
call with great quickness. Young and old, previous to their departure,
frequent the sea shores, like most of the species, but never associate
with other kinds, nor become gregarious, living always in families till
the time of their departure, which usually occurs about the middle of
October.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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