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nia 


The  Home  Life  of 
Wild  Birds 


A  New  Method  of  the 

Study  and 
Photography  of  Birds 


By 
Francis  Hobart  Herriek 


Revised   Edition 


With  1 60  Original  Illustrations  from  Nature 
by  the  Author 


G.  P.  Putnam's  Sons 

Cbe  fmtcherbocher  press 

New    York    and    London 

1905 


COPYRIGHT,  igoi 

BY 
FRANCIS  HOBART  HERRICK 

REVISED  EDITION 

COPYRIGHT,  1905 

BY 
FRANCIS  HOBART  HERRICK 


Ubc  fmlcftetbocher  prew.  Hew  fiock 

3723% 


HST7 


TO  THE  MEMORY 

OF 

MY  FATHER  AND  MOTHER 


COME  LET  US  LIVE  WITH  THE  BIRDS  ! 


PREFACE  TO  THE  REVISED  EDITION 

IN  revising  this  work  on  The  Home  Life  and  Activities  of  Wild 
Birds,  much  has  been  re-written,  and  forty-eight  new  illus- 
trations have  been  added  to  the  text  in  place  of  a  smaller  number 
omitted.  The  first  three  chapters  have  been  materially  changed; 
Chapter  XI.  on  Nest-Building  is  entirely  new,  as  are  also  in  large 
measure  those  which  follow  on  The  Development  and  Care  of  the 
Young  and  on  Life  and  Instinct. 

These  observations  were  chiefly  made  in  central  New  Hamp- 
shire, in  the  towns  of  Northfield  and  Tilton.  Precise  names 
of  all  species  mentioned  in  the  text  are  given  in  the  Index. 

The  semi-technical  parts  will  naturally  appeal  most  to  stu- 
dents, but  I  hope  they  will  not  be  without  interest  to  the  general 
reader. 

The  field  of  animal  behavior  in  the  direction  of  both  observa- 
tion and  experiment  is  of  boundless  extent,  while  on  the  side  of 
inference  it  is  full  of  pitfalls.  Even  if  I  have  not  successfully 
avoided  the  latter  in  every  case,  I  have  been  continually  on  my 
guard. 

My  thanks  are  specially  due  to  the  publishers  of  this  volume, 
who  have  forwarded  my  wishes  in  every  possible  way.  I  am 
also  indebted  to  the  editors  of  the  Century  Magazine,  and  of  Bird 
Lore  for  permission  to  use  certain  material  which  has  already 
appeared  in  their  pages,  and  to  all  critics  of  the  earlier  edition 
who  have  appreciated  my  efforts. 

WESTERN  RESERVE  UNIVERSITY, 

CLEVELAND,  OHIO,  March,  1905. 


CONTENTS 

CHAPTER  PAGE 

Preface      .........         v 

List  of  Illustrations  .          ......        ix 

Introduction     ........    xvii 

I. — A  New  Method  of  Bird  Study  and  Photography  .          i 
II.— Illustrations  of  the  Method:  The  Cedar-Bird;  The 
House  Wren;  The  Redwing  Blackbird,  and  the 
Kingbird    ........       36 

III.— Tent   and   Camera:     The    Tools  of  Bird-Photog- 
raphy        .         .         .          .         .         .         .         -56 

IV.— The  Robin  at  Arm's  Length        .         .         .         .72 

V.— The  Cedar-Bird     .          .         .'".-.         .         .86 
VI. — Vireos:  Awake  and  Asleep    .....     103 

VII.— The  Nest-Hole  of  the  Bluebird       .         .         .         .     115 

VIII. — Minute  Observations  on  Catbirds  .          .         .         .     122 

IX. — The  Rearing  of  the  Night  Hawk   .          .         .         .129 

X. — The  Kingfishers  and  their  King  Row     .         .         .136 
XI. — Nest-Building      '.         .         .         .         .         .-     .-  .     146 

XII. — Development  and  Care  of  the  Young     .         .         .     167 
I.— Egg  and  Chick. 

II. — Brooding  and  Feeding  the  Young. 
III. — Growth  of  the  Nestling. 
IV.— Cleaning  the  Nest. 

XIII. — Life  and  Instinct 194 

XIV. — Fear  in  Birds 214 

XV. — Taming  Wild  Birds  without  a  Cage        .         .         .228 
Index       .........     245 


viii 


ILLUSTRATIONS 


PAGE 


Robin  family.  —  Lens  9T7ff  inch  focus;  speed  |;  stop  32; 
time  ^  second;  plate,  Seeds'  No.  27  "gilt  edge";  dis- 
tance of  object  4  feet;  full  sun;  July  28,  1900 

Frontispiece 

Adult  Cedar-bird      .......  Title 

Footprints   of    Kingfisher  when   thirty-three   days   old. 

Imprint  from  living  bird       ......         ii 

Head  of  Cock  Robin  with  large  katydid  and  angleworm 
in  bill  ..........  iv 

In  the  hill  country  of  New  Hampshire,  overlooking 
Northfield  and  Tilton,  which  is  screened  by  the  hill  in 
foreground.  To  the  south,  on  the  left,  stands  Mt. 
Kearsarge;  toward  the  northern  horizon  Ragged  Mt.  vi 

Red-eyed  Vireo  inspecting  nest       .....      viii 

Young  of  the  Spotted  Sandpiper,  barely  dried  off,  and 

but  a  few  hours  old.     June  12       .         .         .         .         .     xvi 

The  home-life  of  wild  birds  as  depicted  in  Egypt  three 
thousand  years  ago.  Drawing  of  detail  from  wall 
painting  recently  discovered  at  Kurna,  on  site  of  an- 
cient Thebes,  near  Luxor  ......  xxiii 

Automatic  sign-language  of  a  young  bird,  illustrated  in  a 

Cedar  Waxwing  12  days  old.      X   2^     .          .          .          .    xxv 

Head  of  Red-tailed  Hawk  with  frill  erect.     Four  months 

old         .........  xxvi 

FIG.     i.  —  Observation  tent  beside   Cedar-bird's  nest,   which  was 
taken  with  its  branch  from  pine  tree  and  carried  to  open 
field.     At  this  nest  the  series  shown  on  pages  8,  94-99 
was  made     .........         2 

FIG.     2.  —  Tent    in    bushy    pasture,    marking    position    of    nest    of 

Chestnut-sided  Warblers       ......         3 

FIG.    3  .  —  Nearer,  view  of  same  tent  and  nest,  showing  brooding  bird,         4 
FIG.     4.  —  Cedar-bird  about  to  feed  young  by  regurgitation.      Photo- 
graphed at  the  nest  shown  in  Figs,  i,  12,  and  13.    Zeiss 
Anastigmat,  Ser.  ii  a,  6^  inch;  speed  |;   distance  about 
30  inches,  in  full  sun     .          .          .          .  .          .         8 

ix 


x  Illustrations 

PAGE 

FIG.  5  .^-Kingbird's  nesting  tree,  and  nesting  branch — removed 
and  mounted  on  stakes — with  tent.  The  tent-cloth  is 
laid  in  position  at  one  end  of  peak,  and  ready  to  be 
drawn  over  frame.  The  Kingbird  pictures  were  all 
made  on  this  spot  .  .  .  .  .  .  .9 

PIQ     6. — Female  Kingbird  astride  nest, — in  "shielding"  attitude,       10 

FIG.  7. — Kingbird  family,  the  female  partly  hidden  at  the  back. 
It  was  an  easy  matter  to  focus  directly  upon  the  head 
of  the  standing  or  brooding  bird  .  .  .  .  .  i  r 

pIG     g. — Female  Bluebird  with  cricket  at  converted  nest-hole  of 

Flicker i» 

FIG.  9. — Outdoor  observatory  for  the  study  of  wild  birds — com- 
plete. See  Figs.  16-30  .  .  .  .  .  .16 

FIG.  10. — Chestnut-sided  Warbler  "shielding"  on  a  warm  day.    See 

Figs.  2  and  3         .          .         .    • 19 

FIG.  ii. — Red-breasted  Nuthatch  taking  an  insect  to  nest;    white 

photographic  screen  at  back          .          .         .         .         .26 

FIG.  12. — Cedar-bird's  nest  in  pine,  15  feet  from  the  ground.  Up- 
stretched  neck  of  the  old  bird  could  be  seen  at  a  point 
just  beneath  the  upper  arrow-head.  Nesting  bough 
carried  to  field  beyond,  and  mounted  as  shown  in 
Figs,  i  and  13  ......  '.  .  30 

FIG.  13. — Nesting   branch  of  Cedar-bird  set  up  in  field  and  tent 

pitched  beside  it.     Compare  Figs,  i  and  12  .         .          .       31 

FIG.  14. — Family  of  Great  Herring  Gulls  on  their  preserve,  which 
includes  the  nest,  the  perches,  the  feeding  spot  and 
cover  of  the  young.  Great  Duck  Island,  Maine,  July, 

1903 34 

Kingbird  on  its  favorite  perch  in  the  treetop    .          .          -35 

FIG.  15. — The  Cedar- bird  stands  like  a  statuette,  while  inspecting 

her  family     .          .          .          .          .          .          .          .          -37 

FIG.  1 6. — Wren  climbing  to  nest-hole,  with  the  plump  abdomen  of 
a  dismembered  spider  in  bill.  In  the  running  series, 
which  follows,  the  female  invariably  appears.  See 
Fig.  9  .  ...  40 

FIG.  17. — A  black  cricket  is  the  next  victim  offered         ...       40- 

FIG.  18. — Then  appears  the  limp  body  of  a  grasshopper  or  moth     .       40- 

FIG.  19. — Pinched  between  the  sharp  points  of  its  mandibles,  the 
Wren  now  carries  a  moth,  from  which  the  outer  wings 
have  been  torn  .  .  '  .  .  .  .  .  .40 

FIG.  20. — The  Wren  takes  a  glance  around  before  entering  her  dark 

cabin    .          .          .          .          .          .          .          .          .          .41 

FIG.  21. — Cleaning  the  nest      .         .         .         .         .         .         .         .41 

FIG.  22. — The  trunk  sawn  open;  at  the  nest  with  food    .         .         .41 


Illustrations  xi 

PAGE 

FIG.  23. — The  white  sacs  which  are  removed  from  the  nest  are  im- 
paled against  the  bark  of  trees  .  .  .  .  .41 

FIG.  24. — Scenes   on   the    stage    above   nest.     Wren    scolding — or 

"turning  on  the  alarm"         .          .          .          .-  .42 

FIG.  25. — Serving  a  large  moth  minus  wings    .         ..         .         .         .42 

FIG.  26. — The  grasshopper  in  this  instance  was  only  partially  dis- 
membered .........  42 

FIG.  27. — With  tail  cocked,  the  Wren  prepares  to  descend  to  the 

nest      .         .         .         .         .         .  .         .         .42 

FIG.  28. — Successive  positions  assumed  by  Wren  in  descending  to 

the  nest.      In  this  case  the  prey  was  a  spider          .          .        43 

FIG.  29. — The  same  bird  has  secured  a  grasshopper          .         .         .       43 

FIG.  30. — The  spider  or  other  insect  was  not  in  every  case  dis- 
membered ..........  43 

FIG.  3 1 . — Young  Wren  ready  to  fly;  from  a  nest  which  was  removed 

nearly  eight  hundred  feet  from  its  original  position     .        43 

FIG.  32. — Tent  in  swamp,  fronting  Redwing  Blackbird's  nest  shown 

in  Figs.  33  and  34 44 

FIG.  33. — Male  Redwing  Blackbird  feeding  a  nestling      ...       45 

FIG.  34. — Female  "bristling,"  while  shielding  the  young  on  morn- 
ing of  a  hot  day.  July  n,  1900  .....  46 

FIG.  35. — Baltimore  Oriole  inspecting  her  young  after  feeding  them  .        48 

FIG.  36. — Unequal  contest  between  Kingbirds  and  a  dragon-fly. 

This  insect  was  crushed  and  served  up  piecemeal  .        50 

FIG.  37.— Kingbirds  serving  a  dragon-fly,  whose  wings  and  stick- 
like  body  are  seen  protruding  from  the  mouth  of  one 
of  the  young  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  5 1 

FIG.  38. — Female  Warbling  Vireo  bringing  large  immature  dragon- 
fly to  nest 53 

FIG.  39. — Kingbird  eighteen  days  old,   with   power  of  flight  well 

developed.     July  13,  1900    ......       54 

Spotted  Sandpiper  at  birth,  resting  on  note-book.     (See 

Record  of  Observations,  p.  70)      .          .          .          .          -55 

FIG.  40. — The  tools  of  bird-photography — tent  folded  for  carriage, 

cameras,  and  plate-bag         .         .         .         .         .         .       58 

FIG.  41. — Closing  scene  in  the  home-life  of  a  Chebec  family,  shortly 

after  which  the  young  were  on  wing     .         .         .         .       61 

FIG.  42. — Observation  tent  on  raised  platform  and  white  photo- 
graphic screen  for  studying  a  nest  of  the  Red-eyed 
Vireo  in  its  natural  position.  Northfield,  N.  H.,  July 
2, 1902  .........  64 

FIG.  43. — Flicker,  probably  the  female,  at  entrance  of  nest  where 

she  is  met  by  a  nestling  whose  bill  only  is  shown         .       67 

FIG.  44. — Brown  Thrush  entering  her  nest       .....        69 


xii  Illustrations 

PAGE 

FIG.  45. — Female  Robin  brooding    .  .'....       73 

FIG.  46. — Cock  feeding  cluster  of  earthworms  .         .         .         .       75 

FIG.  47. — Cock  standing  at  nest  immediately  after  serving  food, 

and  ready  for  the  duty  of  inspection  and  cleaning     .        78 
FIG.  48. — The  female  also  inspects  her  young  at  every  visit  to  the 

nest       .          .  .          .          .          .          .          .        8 i 

FIG.  49. — Female  Robin  cleaning  the  nest        .          .          .  .84 

Young  of   European   Blackbird   (Merula  atra),  Lucerne, 

Switzerland,  July  4,  1904     .          .          .          .          .          .85 

FIG.  50. — Cedar-bird  standing  at  nest  with  full  gullet,  after  one  of 

the  young  had  left .88 

FIG.  51. — Young  Cedar-birds  responding   in   chorus  to  the   silent 

mother  .          .          .          .  .          .          .          .89 

FIG.  52. — Scene  at  the  same  nest  taken  a  little  earlier  in  the  day; 
the  mother  approaches  the  young,  which  are  nearly 
ready  to  fly  .          .          .          .  .          .          .          -91 

FIG.  53. — The    Cedar-bird    approaches   with    closed    bill    but    full 

throat  ...../....        94 

FIG.  54. — After  feeding  the  young  she  inspects  them       ...       95 
FIG.  55. — She  tosses  up  her  head,  and  produces  a  cherry          .          .       96 
FIG.  56. — She  is  startled  at  a  strange  sound     ....  97 

FIG.  57. — She  devours  what  is  sometimes  removed  from  the  nest  .       98 
FIG.  58. — The  sac  is  taken  directly  from  the  cloaca  of  the  young 

bird      .         .         .         .         .         .         .         .         .          .99 

FIG.  59. — A  young  Waxwing  from  this  nest  on  the  morning  of 
flight,  in  natural  attitude  expressive  of  fear.     July  19, 
1900      .          .          .          .          .          .          .          .          .    '      .      101 

FIG.  60. — Red-eyed  Vireo  and  her  young  interlocked.      In  order  to 
start  the  swallowing  reflex  the  food  must  be  pressed 
down  into  the  sensitive  throat       .          .          .          .          .105 

FIG.  61. — The  mother  Vireo  has  a  large  insect  ready        .          .          .      106 
FIG.  62. — The  same  bird,  on  the  same  perch,  is  testing  the  throat 

of  a  nestling          .          .         .         .         .         .          .          .107 

FIG.  63. — "The  attitude  of  inspection  is  prone."      Inspection  fol- 
lows feeding  with  the  regularity  of  clock-work     .          .108 
FIG.  64. — Female  Red-eyed  Vireo  from  another  nest  gingerly  in- 
specting her  brood         .  .          .          .          .          .109 

FIG.  65. — The  young  of  this  nest  when  ready  to  fly  .  .  .  in 
FIG.  66. — The  Vireo  shown  in  Fig.  60  asleep  on  her  nest.  Compare 

also  Fig.  42 113 

FIG.  67. — Female  Bluebird  on  point  of  leaving  her  nest  .  .  .115 
FIG.  68. — The  same  bird  carrying  a  grasshopper  to  her  brood  .  117 
FIG.  69. — The  Bluebird  engaged  in  house-cleaning.  Photographed 

at  a  distance  of  eighteen  inches  .          .          .          .          .119 


Illustrations  xiii 

PAGE 

FIG.  70. — A  similar  attitude     .         .          .         .         .         .         .         .119 

FIG.  71. — The  same  bird  at  the  point  of  flight  .          .          .          .119 

FIG.  72. — Taking  a  final  glance  around  before  entering  nest-hole 

with  grasshopper  .          .          .          .          .          .          .120 

FIG.  73. — Female  Catbird  bringing  to  young  a  limp  dragon-fly,  the 
large  ALschna  heros,  which   has  just   issued   from  its 
pupa-skin      .          .          .          .          .          .          .          .          -123 

FIG.  74. — Catbird  inspecting  her  young  .          .          .          .          .          -125 

FIG.  75. — Catbird  cleaning  the  nest  .          .          .          .          .          .127 

FIG.  76. — Night  Hawk  on  bare  ground,  and  eggshells  from  which  it 

emerged  three  days  before    .          .         .         .         .          .129 

FIG.  77. — Young  Night  Hawk  in  enclosure  where  it  remained  until 

able  to  fly     .         .         .         .         .         .         .          .          .      130 

FIG.  78. — Night  Hawk  approximately  three  days  old       .         .         .     131 
FIG.  79. — Night  Hawk  about  nine  days  old      .         .         .         .          -131 

FIG.  80. — Night  Hawk  about  twelve  days  old  ....      133 

FIG.  81. — Night  Hawk  about  sixteen  days  old          ....      133 

FIG.  82. — Eggs  of  the  Night  Hawk,  laid  on  the  bare  ground  .          .      134 
FIG.  83. — Kingfisher  taking  a  fish  to  its  young.      Lens  9T7g-  inch; 
speed  |;    stop  8;   time  -gV  second;    distance  9  ft.  8  in.; 
full  sun.     July  24,  1900         .         .         .         .         .  137 

FIG.  84. — Kingfisher  backing  out  of  tunnel.     A  stream  of  sand  is 

started  from  the  opening  at  every  entrance  and  exit  .      137 
FIG.  85. — Five  Kingfishers  from  chamber  at  end  of  tunnel — ap- 
proximately nine  days  old.     July  19,  1900  .          -139 
FIG.  86. — The  same  birds  placed  in  line,  biting  and  pulling     .         .     139 
FIG.  87. — Posed  in  row  to  illustrate  habit  of  sitting  still  .           .          .      141 
FIG.  88. — King-row  at  a  later  stage — birds  thirteen  days  old  .          .      141 
FIG.  89. — Kingfisher    at    nine    days,    showing   feather   tubes    and 

tracts   .         .         .         .         .         .         .         .          .         .142 

FIG.  90. — At  thirteen  days.     The  wing-quills  show  one  half  inch  of 

the  blue-black,  white-tipped  feather-shafts  .          .          .142 
FIG.  91. — Kingfisher  at  fifteen  days.     Nearly  all  feathers  partly 

unsheathed  .          .          .          .          .          .          .          .          .      143 

FIG.  92. — Kingfishers  eighteen  days  old.     The  bright  blue  of  the 
upper  parts  and  the  white  and  chestnut  bands  across 
the  breast  are  now  very  prominent       .          .          .  143 

FIG.  93 . — Kingfishers  twenty-two  days  old.     To  illustrate  how  they 
break  ranks  and  walk  backwards,  when  placed  in  line. 
The  second  on  the  left  has  already  taken  a  few  back- 
ward steps    .         .         .         .         .         .         .          .         .144 

FIG.  94. — Nest  of  Cedar  Waxwing  as  seen  from  above     .         .         .147 
FIG.  95. — Female  Robin  brooding.     See  page  76  .         .         .150 

FIG.  96. — Baltimore  Oriole  feeding  her  nurslings      .         .         .  151 


xiv  Illustrations 

PAGE 

FIG.  97. — Typical  nest  of  Robin,  the  mud-mold  of  which  is  con- 
cealed by  fine  grass  .  .  .  .  .  .  .154 

FIG.  98. — Female  Brown  Thrush  brooding  in  displaced  nest     .          .      157 

FIG.  99. — Very  elaborate  nest  of  the  Great  Herring  Gull  nicely 
modeled  and  built  up  several  inches  from  the  surface 
of  the  ground  .  .  .  .  .  .  •  .  .162 

FIG.  100. — The  builder  of  the  nest  sitting  over  her  eggs  .          .          -163 

FIG.  i oi.— The  Common  Tern  brooding  a  little  chick  which  is  able 

to  run  about  and  has  left  its  nest  .  .  .  .166 

FIG.  102. — The  Great  Herring  Gull  frequently  turns  the  eggs  with 

her  bill  upon  entering  the  nest  .  .  .  .  .169 

FIG.  103. — Domestic  chick  at  the  thirty-third  hour  of  incubation; 
enlarged  nearly  ten  times.  Photomicrograph  by  Mr. 
Carl  B.  James  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  171 

FIG.  104. — The  Herring  Gull  when  nearly  ready  to  break  out  of  the 
egg.  Great  Duck  Island,  Maine,  July  6,  1903.  Di- 
mensions of  egg  2^|  by  2  inches  .  .  .  .172 

FIG.  105. — The  brooding  Chestnut-sided  Warbler  .          .         .          .174 

FIG.  106. — The  same  bird  shielding  the  young  and  bristling  at  the  nest      175 

FIG.  107. — Female  Chestnut-sided  Warbler  brooding  with  throat 

puffed  out  and  head-feathers  erect  .  .  .  .176 

FIG.  108. — Female  Kingbird  astride  nest  in  the  characteristic  in- 
stinctive attitude  of  shielding  her  brood  from  the 
heat  of  the  sun  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  177 

FIG.  109. — The  oldest  pictures  of  the  home-life  of  birds.  Detail  of 
hunting  scene  in  stone-relief  from  tomb  of  Mereruka, 
Sakkara,  Egypt,  over  four  thousand  years  old;  the 
conventional  representation  of  a  papyrus  thicket, 
with  many  nesting  birds  and  occasionally  a  mongoose 
attacking  them.  The  birds  are  usually  represented 
as  spreading,  and  in  sitting  posture.  Compare  Figs. 
10  and  108  ...  ....  178 

FIG.  no. — Gull  yawning  like  a  dog  or  cat;  photographed  at  the 
close  of  respiration  showing  the  uplifted  tongue  and 
puffed-out  cheeks  .  .  .  .  .  .179 

FIG.  i  ii. — Eggs  of  the  Cedar  Waxwing,  and  its  young  in  various  in- 
stinctive attitudes — crouching,  and  the  typical  reflex 
response  to  sound  or  vibrations  of  any  kind  .  .180 

FIG.  112. — Female  Redwing  Blackbird  placing  food  in  the  throat  of 

its  nursling  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .182 

FIG.  113. — The  same  bird  awaiting  the  reflex  response  of  the  throat 
and  gullet  of  young.  If  not  forthcoming,  the  food  is 
withdrawn,  and  another  is  tested  .  .  .  -183 

FIG.  114. — Kingbirds  rending  an  unruly  grasshopper       .         .         .      184 


Illustrations  xv 

PAGE 

FIG.  115. — Female  Brown  Thrush  placing  food  well  down  in  the 

throat.     Point  of  bill  is  on  level  with  external  ear  of 

young          .         .-,      .        .-.-..       .         .         .         .         .      185 

FIG.  1 1 6. — Kingbird  helping  a  robust  grampus  down  the  throat  of 

one  of  its  young     ...         .         .         .         .         .186 

FIG.  117. — The  male  grampus,  Corydalus  cornutus.  Full  size,  from 

life 187 

FIG.  1 1 8. — The  male  Chestnut-sided  Warbler  brings  food  to  his 

mate,  who  passes  it  on  to  the  children  .  .  .190 
FIG.  119. — The  Flicker  removes  packages  of  extraordinary  size 

from  its  nest        .          .....          .          .          .  191 

FIG.  120. — The  Brown  Thrush  engaged  in  house-cleaning  .  .  192 
FIG.  121. — Typical  reflex  response  of  the  altricial  bird.  Young 

Cedar  Waxwing.  Life-size  .  .  .  .  .199 
FIG.  122. — Red-shouldered  Hawk  standing  with  the  shank  of  one 

foot  resting  on  the  perch     ...         .         .         .  '       .     200 

FIG.  123. — Young  Red-shouldered  Hawk  in  the  instinctive  attitude 

of  spreading  wings  and  tail  around  the  prey  .  .202 
FIG.  124. — Cock  Robin  with  bill  loaded  aiming  at  a  yellow  target  .  204 
FIG.  125. — Mother  Robin  standing  at  inspection  ....  205 
FIG.  126. — Male  Redwing  Blackbird  cleaning  the  nest  .  .  .  208 
FIG.  127. — Similar  pose  of  the  same  bird  engaged  in  the  same  act, 

illustrating  the  force  of  habit  .....  209 
FIG.  128. — Female  Kingbird  balancing  with  raised  wings  while 

serving  food        .         .         .         .         .         .         .         .210 

FIG.  129. — The  young  Kingbirds  struggle  with  a  large  harvest-fly, 

which  the  male  has  delivered      .         .         .         .         .211 

Hatful  of  young  Kingfishers  .          .          .          .          .          .213 

FIG.  130. — Brown  Thrush  at  nest  in  attitude  expressive  of  fear  .  215 
FIG.  131. — Young  Kingfishers,  twenty-four  days  old,  shortly  before 

the  development  of  fear  .  .  — -.  .  .  .217 
FIG.  132. — Red-tailed  Hawk  worried.  Instinctive  attitude  expres- 
sive of  fear,  and  serving  to  inspire  fear  .  .  218 
FIG.  133. — Young  Cowbird  standing  at  nest  of  Magnolia  Warblers, 

its  foster  parents         .         .         .         .         .         .         .220 

FIG.  134. — Young  Cowbird,  as  it  appeared  when  found,  completely 

filling  the  nest  .  ...  .221 

FIG.  135. — Young  Cowbird  attended  by  its  nurse,  a  Chipping 

Sparrow      .         .         .         .         .         .         .         .         .222 

FIG.  136. — Male  Robin  startled  by  alarm  call  of  his  mate  .  .  223 
FIG.  137. — Male  Flicker  beginning  to  regurgitate  the  food  before 

entering  nest        .          .          .          .          .         .         .          .225 

FIG.  138. — Flicker's  nest  opened  at  the  back  and  showing  the  feed- 
ing operations  which  are  going  on  inside  .  ,  .  .  226 


XVI 


Illustrations 


FIG.  139. — Female  Red -eyed  Vireo  inspecting  cautiously 

FIG.  140. — Male  Red-eyed  Vireo  waiting  for  inspection   . 

FIG.  141. — Male  Kingbird  ready  to  perform  the  same  duty 

FIG.  142. — Characteristic     attitude    of    young   Cedar-birds    during 

latter  days  of  life  at  the  nest       .          .          .          . 
FIG.  143. — Female  Chestnut-sided  Warbler  taking  a  Icok  at  the 

eggs    .  ..'••. 

FIG.  144. — The  same  bird  inspecting  her  brood 

FIG.  145. — Offering  food  to  a  Chestnut-sided  Warbler     . 

FIG.  146. — Scene  at  the  same  nest.     The  hen  broods,  while  the 

cock  supplies  the  larder  v         . 


PAGE 

230 
231 
233 

235 

236 
237 
239 

241 


INTRODUCTION 
I 

TO  describe  and  illustrate  a  new  means  of  studying  animal 
behavior,  and  to  record  what  has  been  learned  by  its  aid 
concerning  the  strenuous  life  of  the  wild  bird,  are  the  main  pur- 
poses of  this  volume.  It  is  a  popular  study  of  birds  in  action 
and  is  chiefly  concerned  with  the  homes  or  nests  and  their 
occupants. 

While  the  desire  has  been  present  to  make  these  pages  read- 
able, no  effort  has  been  spared  to  render  them  accurate.  Many 
of  the  observations  are  new;  nearly  all  are  original,  and  every 
statement  of  fact  is  believed  to  be  true  as  it  stands. 

The  wish  to  give  a  human  interest  to  every  phase  of  animal 
activity  is  of  very  ancient  origin  and  has  done  too  much  already 
in  spreading  the  seeds  of  popular  error  and  superstition  concern- 
ing animal  life  and  lore.  Animals  should  be  studied  as  animals 
which  they  are,  and  not  as  human  beings  which  they  have  never 
been  and  are  not  likely  ever  to  become. 

The  constant  reading  of  human  attributes  into  the  activities 
of  animals  is  to  begin  at  the  wrong  end,  and  is  a  drag  on  the 
progress  of  accurate  knowledge.  We  should  first  study  the 
animal  as  far  as  possible  from  its  own  standpoint,  and  learn  with 
exactness  the  facts  of  its  life,  taking  care  not  to  press  analogies 
farther  than  the  observed  facts  will  warrant.  Ignorance  of 
anatomy  as  well  as  of  physiology,  and  the  desire  to  find  in  the 
doings  of  animals  a  marvelous  counterpart  of  human  powers  of 
intelligence  and  reason,  have  already  stocked  our  libraries  with 
fables,  anecdotes,  and  stories,  which  make  pleasant  reading,  but 
possess  little  value  for  the  modern  student. 

xvii 


xviii  Introduction 

The  first  duty  of  the  narrator  of  natural  as  well  as  civil  his- 
tory is  to  tell  the  truth,  and  to  the  naturalist  belongs  also  the 
privilege  of  showing  that  the  lives  of  the  higher  animals,  when 
fully  and  clearly  revealed,  possess  a  more  vital  interest  than  the 
puppet  dressed  in  human  clothes,  however  admirable  the  latter 
may  be  as  a  work  of  art. 

I  trust  that  the  reader  will  not  misunderstand  these  remarks. 
What  is  criticised  is  the  gross  anthropomorphism  which  charac- 
terizes much  that  is  written  upon  the  actions  of  animals.  If  I 
am  an  offender  in  this  direction,  I  hope  it  is  only  in  a  minor 
degree.  I  am  anxious  to  attribute  to  the  animal  every  power 
which  it  is  actually  known  to  possess,  and  look  for  the  roots  of 
human  instinct  and  intelligence  all  along  the  line  of  animal 
evolution.  "Go  to  the  ant,  thou  sluggard!"  is  good  advice,  but 
one  should  bring  from  the  ant  a  trustworthy  account  of  how  it 
performs  its  wonderful  works. 

II 

Although  this  is  not  a  treatise  on  Animal  Behavior,  a  general 
working  theory  has  been  adopted,  and  is  given  in  the  chapter 
on  Life  and  Instinct.  If  it  were  possible  to  add  a  select  bibli- 
ography on  the  instincts  and  intelligence  of  animals,  the  list 
would  include  the  names  of  more  than  a  dozen  modern  writers, 
whose  works  abound  in  fertile  suggestions  and  ideas.  To  have 
quoted  from  their  experiments  or  technical  essays  would  have 
taken  us  far  from  the  scope  and  purpose  of  the  present  volume, 
and  to  a  study  of  forms  as  far  removed  from  Birds  as  the  higher 
Mammals  on  the  one  hand,  and  the  Insects  or  the  Protozoa  on 
the  other.  In  such  a  list,  however,  would  occur  the  names  of  Karl 
Groos,  Lloyd  Morgan,  Edward  Thorndike,  and  Professors  Whit- 
man and  Loeb,  to  mention  those  to  whom  I  am  most  indebted, 
and  whether  we  accept  their  theories  or  not,  they  must  com- 
mand our  respect,  because  they  are  based  on  the  secure  ground 
of  observation  and  experiment. 

All  earnest  students  should  ponder  well  the  words  of  Karl 
Groos,  who  maintains,  in  his  admirable  work  on  The  Play  of 


Introduction  xix 

Animals,  that  the  interpreter  of  the  animal  mind  should  unite 
to  a  thorough  training  in  physiology,  psychology,  and  biology 
the  experience  of  a  director  of  a  zoological  garden,  and  the  lore 
of  a  forester,  besides  being  a  student  of  aesthetics.  Such  versa- 
tility is  practically  unattainable,  but  even  if  he  magnifies  his 
office,  it  is  not  surprising  that  much  has  been  written  to  So  little 
purpose  on  a  difficult  subject. 

Ill 

A  number  of  years  ago  I  became  interested  in  the  photog- 
raphy of  wild  animals  as  a  means  of  securing  better  pictures 
for  book-illustration,  but  it  was  not  until  the  summer  of  1899 
that  time  was  found  for  experiments  in  the  field.  Taking  up 
the  specific  problem  of  how  to  photograph  the  free  wild  bird, 
it  was  at  once  apparent  that  the  nest  or  home  was  the  focal  point 
of  interest  to  both  bird  and  observer,  since  during  the  period  of 
nesting  or  home  life  the  range  of  the  adults  is  limited  as  at  no 
other  time,  and  to  a  comparatively  small  area.  For  a  month 
or  more  they  are  chained  to  a  given  spot.  It  was  also  evident 
that  for  the  study  of  any  nest,  situated  near  the  ground  and 
within  reach  of  the  camera,  a  convenient  and  perfect  means  of 
concealment  was  necessary.  A  glimpse  now  and  then,  or  a 
"lucky  shot "  obtained  by  means  of  attaching  a  long  rubber  tube 
with  pneumatic  bulb  to  the  shutter  of  the  camera,  which  must 
be  worked  at  a  distance,  is  not  of  much  value.  What  was 
needed  was  a  means  of  watching  at  the  closest  range  the  whole 
life  of  birds  at  the  nest. 

For  concealment  I  first  decided  to  try  a  house  made  of  light 
boards  and  painted  green,  but  soon  discarded  this  impracticable 
idea  and  made  a  tent  of  green  cloth  instead.  This  was  used  at 
a  nest  of  Redwing  Blackbirds,  situated  a  few  feet  above  the 
water  of  a  swamp,  and  was  a  success  from  the  first.  However, 
the  task  was  only  half  completed  with  the  introduction  of  a 
convenient  blind,  since  most  nests  of  wild  birds  are  inaccessible 
from  the  ground. 

The  next  experiment  was  made  with  Chipping  Sparrows, 


xx  Introduction 

whose  young  left  their  nest  the  moment  it  was  disturbed.  The 
branch  which  held  this  nest  was  thereupon  sawn  off,  and 
mounted  in  a  convenient  spot  beside  a  barn  which  happened  to 
be  near,  one  of  the  young  being  used  as  a  lure.  While  this  nest 
was  being  moved,  I  placed  the  fledgling  under  an  old-fashioned 
wire  screen  used  to  cover  food,  when  the  mother,  true  to  her 
parental  instinct,  came  promptly  with  an  insect  and  alighted  on 
the  wire  net.  Some  photographs  were  later  made,  but,  although 
in  this  case  parental  instinct  was  the  force  employed,  the  dis- 
placement of  the  nest  had  no  significance. 

The  first  experiment  in  moving  the  nest,  branch  and  all,  was 
made  upon  Cedar  Waxwings,  August  3,  1899.  Two  days  later 
the  tent  was  pitched  before  their  nest,  and  in  a  few  minutes  I 
had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  both  birds  approach  and  feed  their 
young  with  choke-cherries  by  regurgitation,  as  if  nothing  had 
happened.  The  scenes  were  as  fascinating  as  they  were  novel, 
and  a  number  of  photographs  were  made  from  the  tent,  one  of 
which  is  reproduced  on  page  89  of  this  work.  It  thus  became 
evident  that  an  important  principle  was  involved,  and  that  the 
key  to  the  problem  of  approaching  the  wild  bird  had  been  found. 
Every  subsequent  experiment  tended  to  confirm  this  conclusion. 

The  method  is  based  on  the  solid  ground  of  animal  instinct, 
is  capable  of  many  refinements,  and  in  judicious  hands  will  add 
wonderfully  to  our  knowledge  of  birds  during  that  most  interest- 
ing of  all  periods— life  in  the  home. 

IV 

With  the  opportunities  of  closest  approach  which  this  method 
affords,  it  has  been  possible  to  give  an  exact  analysis  of  nest 
life.  Attention  will  be  called  to  the  chain-like  relation  of  the 
different  serial  acts  performed  at  the  nests,  such  as  the  capture 
and  delivery  of  the  prey,  the  inspection  and  cleaning  of  the  nest, 
and  brooding  and  spreading  over  the  young.  We  have  found 
the  same  type  of  behavior  recurring  with  striking  regularity  in 
those  orders  of  birds  already  studied,  which  feed  their  young 
for  a  considerable  period,  but  the  field  is  wide  and  unexplored 


Introduction  xxi 

in  many  directions,  and  we  must  look  for  much  variation  in  all 
minor  details. 

The  strength  of  parental  instinct,  especially  in  the  higher 
animals,  has  been  recognized  from  early  times,  but  the  subject 
has  not  been  previously  subjected  to  careful  experiment  and 
analysis  in  birds. 

I  have  found  but  few  references  to  even  casual  experiments. 
In  speaking  of  the  Catbird,  Audubon  observes  that  it  will  sit  on 
its  eggs  after  the  nest  has  been  displaced,  or  even  after  it  has 
been  carried  from  one  bush  to  another  (Ornithological  Biography, 
vol.  ii.,  p.  173).  Blackwall,  in  a  later  English  work  (referred  to 
on  page  189),  gives  a  good  example  of  the  strength  which  the 
parental  instinct  in  even  a  foster-parent  sometimes  attains.  He 
relates  that  in  August  of  the  year  1825  a  neighbor  took  a  young 
Cuckoo  out  of  a  Titlark's  nest,  carried  it  home,  and  put  it  in  a 
cage,  which  was  hung  in  a  pear-tree  in  his  garden.  The  foster- 
parents  quickly  discovered  their  nursling,  notwithstanding  that 
it  had  been  carried  three  quarters  of  a  mile  from  its  home,  and 
continued  to  feed  it  until  it  was  killed  by  a  cat. 

In  another  instance,  mentioned  by  Montagu  (Ornithological 
Dictionary,  p.  203),  a  nest  of  Golden  Crested  Wrens  was  moved 
from  its  original  position,  and  the  old  birds  were  enticed  to  his 
study- window,  and  finally  inside  the  room.  The  male  would 
never  enter,  but  his  mate  fed  her  young — in  their  nest  which  was 
placed  in  a  basket — on  the  table  at  which  he  sat,  and  even  when 
he  held  the  nest  in  his  hand,  provided  he  was  perfectly  motion- 
less. Such  stories  no  longer  occasion  surprise,  and  will  receive 
ample  illustration  in  the  pages  which  follow. 

V 

This  study  of  the  activities  of  birds,  which  was  further 
undertaken  as  a  relief  from  the  confinement  of  a  laboratory, 
soon  developed  from  a  holiday  recreation  into  most  serious  work, 
but  the  chief  difficulty  under  which  I  have  labored  is  lack  of 
time. 

The   season   most   valuable  to  the  student  of  the  life   and 


xxii  Introduction 

instincts  of  birds  is  definitely  fixed  in  this  latitude,  and  extends 
from  the  middle  of  April  to  the  middle  of  July,  while  two  or 
three  weeks  could  be  advantageously  added  at  either  end  of 
this  quarter-year  period.  My  professional  duties  have  always 
kept  me  at  my  post  until  most  of  the  golden  opportunities  of  the 
year  were  lost,  so  that  the  work  had  to  be  done  at  the  lag  end 
of  the  season. 

In  no  other  study  is  continuous  effort  at  a  particular  time 
more  essential.  A  rare  chance  may  come  in  May  or  June,  but  if 
one  is  interrupted  or  called  away  for  a  day  or  even  for  an  hour, 
it  maybe  lost  and  never  return.  To  obtain  the  best  results,  the 
student  of  the  life  and  instincts  of  animals  must  be  a  free  lance, 
and  unhampered  by  the  burdens  and  conventions  of  life.  At 
some  future  time,  I  hope  to  offer  a  fuller  account  of  my  ob- 
servations. 

VI 

For  comparison  with  the  modern  results  of  photography,  I 
am  able  to  present  reproductions  of  the  most  ancient  pictures  of 
the  home  life  of  birds  which  have  come  down  to  us. 

The  oldest  representations  of  nesting  birds  introduce  us  to 
the  celebrated  hunting  scenes  of  the  ancient  Egyptians,  in 
which  their  spirits  are  pursuing  the  favorite  sport  of  hunting 
in  the  reeds  and  the  marshes  of  the  Nile.  These  were  cut  in 
stone-relief  and  colored,  on  the  walls  of  famous  tombs  in  the 
neighborhood  of  Memphis.  They  date  from  the  Fifth  Dynasty 
and  are  considerably  over  four  thousand  years  old.  In  the 
papyrus  thickets  fly  birds  of  many  kinds,  while  others  sit  on 
conventional  saucer-shaped  nests,  which  are  balanced  on  the 
flowers  of  this  plant.  (See  Fig.  109.) 

But  more  interesting  than  these  is  a  painting  in  colors  on  the 
wall  of  a  tomb,  probably  of  the  Eighteenth  Dynasty,  and  over 
three  thousand  years  old,  recently  discovered  at'  Kurna,  Thebes, 
and  first  placed  on  exhibition  in  March,  1904.  (See  p.  xxiii.) 

The  drawing  which  is  here  given  represents  the  detail  of  a 
remarkable  tree,  in  which  the  artist  has  represented  in  different 
registers  the  foliage,  the  trunk  and  branches,  and  a  vine  (grafted 


Introduction 


XXlll 


on  to  the  tree),  bearing  large  clusters  of  purple  grapes.  In  the 
branches  we  behold  birds'  nests  with  eggs,  while  higher  up  is 
this  nest  containing  four  young  birds  nearly  full-fledged.  The 
spirited  original,  which  is  better  than  many  drawings  produced 
in  modern  times,  represents  the  nestlings  at  the  critical  moment 
of  being  fed.  The  parent,  doubtless  a  Pigeon,  is  coming  full  tilt 
toward  the  nest,  while  her  young,  with  their  necks  upstretched, 
mouths  agape,  and  wings  a-quiver,  are  calling  eagerly. 


Nest  life  of  birds  as  represented  in  Egypt  seven 
hundred  years  before  the  traditional  founding  of 
Rome. 

Three  other  birds,  and  five  other  nests,  containing  either  two 
or  three  eggs,  appear  in  this  or  adjoining  trees.  Since  Pigeons 
lay  but  two  eggs,  our  ancient  artist  has  overstepped  the  bounds 
of  ornithological  accuracy,  but  the  picture  is  of  remarkable  in- 
terest, and  is  the  oldest  elaborate  drawing  of  nest  life  yet  re- 
corded, and  the  best  to  be  seen  on  the  Egyptian  monuments. 

The  conventional  form  of  the  birds'  nest  (a  saucer,  or  cres- 
centic  figure  with  rounded  horns),  which  had  been  in  use  for 
nearly  fifteen  hundred  years,  as  is  proved  by  existing  remains, 


xxiv  Introduction 

has  been  retained,  with  cross-hatching  added,  while  the  drawing 
of  both  young  and  adult  birds  is  taken  direct  from  nature.  The 
picture  was  the  work  of  a  man  competent  to  observe,  and  skilful 
with  the  brush,  but  without  the  motives  of  scientific  accuracy, 
and  hampered  by  those  curious  conventions  of  art  which  the 
ancient  Egyptians  were  never  able  to  wholly  shake  off. 

VII 

Nearly  all  the  illustrations  of  this  volume  are  from  photo- 
graphs of  adult  birds,  and  in  some  cases  are  arranged  in  series, 
and  portray  certain  actions  which  are  performed  in  routine. 
With  very  few  exceptions  all  were  made  by  means  of  the  method 
— that  is  to  say,  the  photographs  were  taken  deliberately  and  not 
by  chance.  My  plan  is  to  watch  the  life  at  the  nest  very  closely, 
hour  by  hour,  and  day  by  day,  and  I  often  make  a  large  number 
of  photographs  to  illustrate  typical  and  unusual  scenes  at  a  nest. 
The  observer  has  the  advantage  of  being  on  the  spot,  of  being 
able  to  see  every  act  performed,  and  to  seize  every  opportunity 
which  may  arise.  Many  of  the  photographs  here  shown  could 
not  have  been  obtained  by  any  other  means. 

Among  the  water  birds,  this  method  has  been  most  fully  ap- 
plied to  the  Great  Herring  Gull,  the  communal  life  of  which, 
with  the  many  singular  attitudes  assumed  on  the  perches  and 
about  their  preserves,  can  be  represented  in  the  fullest  detail, 
but  the  results  of  these  studies  will  be  offered  at  some  future 
time. 

For  portrayal  of  animals  in  action  the  camera  is  of  value, 
because  of  the  very  exactness  with  which  we  are  able  to  catch 
and  register  a  fleeting  attitude  or  expression  as  well  as  the  varied 
series  of  bodily  acts  which  are  the  momentary  witnesses  of  the 
instinct  and  intelligence  of  animals.  The  camera  is  an  impartial 
observer  and  taker  of  notes,  and  a  kind  of  third  eye  to  which  we 
may  appeal  when  in  doubt.  However  great  its  limitations,  they 
are  of  a  different  character  from  those  of  the  actual  observer. 
The  photograph  is  not  to  be  foolishly  vaunted  over  the  work  of 
the  artist,  for  the  camera  supplants  or  replaces  nothing;  it  is  a 


Introduction  xxv 

tool,  a  trusty  servant  and  recorder,  which  the  artist  can  use  to 
as  good  advantage  as  any  one  else.  Scientific  books  dealing 
with  the  anatomy  and  development  of  animals  will  always  re- 
quire good  drawings  for  the  illustration  of  their  subjects,  and 
these  are  preferable  to  poor  photographs ;  but  for  the  study  of 
animal  behavior  in  both  the  invertebrates  and  vertebrates  the 
camera  is  at  times  immeasurably  superior  to  brush  or  pencil. 
Popular  natural -history  books  have  already  a  large  body  of  in- 
valuable material  to  draw  upon  for  illustrative  purposes,  and 
the  often  crude,  impossible,  or  imperfect  drawings,  which  "have 
long  done  service  in  the  past,  will  gradually  give  place  to  truthful 
delineations  of  animals  at  home,  and  in  the  midst  of  that  nature 
of  which  they  form  a  part. 


THE  HOME  LIFE  OF 
WILD  BIRDS 


CHAPTER  I 

A  NEW  METHOD  OF  BIRD  STUDY  AND  PHOTOGRAPHY 

THE  method  of  studying  the  habits  of  wild  birds  which  this 
volume  illustrates  consists  in  bringing  the  birds  to  you  and 
then  camping  beside  them,  in  watching  their  behavior  at  arm's 
length  and  in  recording  with  the  camera  their  varied  activites. 
By  means  of  such  a  method  one  may  live  with  the  birds  for  days 
at  a  time,  and  watch  the  play  of  their  most  interesting  habits 
and  instincts.  The  actors  are  not  confined  in  cages;  they  suffer 
indeed  no  restraint,  excepting  that  only  which  their  nature 
imposes.  They  come  and  go  at  will,  and  their  life  is  as  free  and 
untrammeled  as  ever. 

The  method  enables  one  to  see  with  his  own  eyes  at  a  distance 
of  a  few  inches  or  feet,  more  or  less,  what  birds  do  in  and  about 
their  nests,  and  at  the  same  time  affords  the  rare  opportunity 
of  making  photographs,  not  a  single  picture  or  a  chance  shot 
now  and  then,  but  an  unlimited  series  of  pictures  to  illustrate 
the  behavior  of  birds  in  the  fullest  manner  and  at  the  most 
interesting  period  of  their  lives.  It  is  often  an  easy  matter  to 
focus  the  camera  directly  upon  the  bird  itself  and  to  give  a  time 
exposure  when  desired.  Moreover,  you  can  approach  as  near 
as  you  wish,  and  make  photographs  of  any  required  size. 


2  Wild  Birds 

I  will  now  give  the  reader  a  less  enigmatical  account  of  the 
method,  first  considering  its  psychological  basis  or  the  scientific 
principles  on  which  it  rests,  and  then  recording  in  a  separate 


Fig.  i.    Tent  in  front  of  Cedar-bird's  nest,  shown  in  its  original  position 
in  Fig.  18.     One  of  the  birds  is  feeding  its  young. 

chapter,  as  practical  examples  of  its  working,  the  exact  history 
of  a  few  of  the  cases  in  which  it  has  been  applied. 

The  method  in  use  depends  mainly  upon  two  conditions : 

(1)  The  control  of  the  nesting  site,  and 

(2)  The  concealment  of  the  observer. 

By  nesting  site  is  meant  the  nest  and  its  immediate  sur- 


Method  of  Bird  Study  and  Photography       3 

roundings,  such  as  a  twig,  branch,  hollow  trunk,  stem,  or  what- 
ever part  of  a  tree  the  nest  may  occupy,  a  bush,  stub,  strip  of 
sod  or  tussock  of  sedge,  that  is — the  nest  with  its  imme- 
diate settings.     If  the  nest,  like  that  of  an  Oriole,  is 
fastened  to  the  leafy  branch  of  a  tree.the  nesting  bough 
is  cut  off,  and  the  whole  is   then  carefully  lowered 
to  the  ground  and  set  up  in  a  good  light,  so  that  the  branch  with 


Fig.   2.     Tent  in  bushy  pasture  beside 
Warbler,  shown  in  detail  in  Fig.  3. 


st  of  Chestnut-sided 


the  nest  shall  occupy  the  same  relative  positions  which  they 
did  before.  The  nest,  however,  is  now  but  four  instead  of  forty 
or  more  feet  from  the  ground. 

The  nesting  bough  is  carried  to  a  convenient  point,  and  firmly 


4  Wild  Birds 

fastened  to  two  stakes,  driven  into  the  ground  and  placed  in  a 
good  light.     If  the  nest  is  in  a  tussock  in  a  shaded  swamp,  the 


Fig.  3.    Tent  beside  nest  of  Chestnut-sided  Warbler.     The  female 
broods,  while  the  male  is  foraging. 

whole  is  cut  out  and  taken  to  the  nearest  well-lighted  place ;  if 
in  the  woods,  it  is  carried  to  a  clearing  where  the  light  is  favor- 
able for  study.  Again,  when  a  nest  like  that  of  the  Brown 


Method  of  Bird  Study  and  Photography       5 

Thrush  occupies  the  center  of  a  dense  thorn  bush  which  no 
human  eye  can  penetrate  and  much  less  that  of  the  camera,  its 
main  supports  are  cut  off,  and  the  essential  parts  are  removed 
to  the  outside  of  the  clump  or  to  any  favorable  point  close  at 
hand.  If  the  nest  is  but  five  or  ten  feet  up,  the  main  stem  is 
severed,  and  the  nesting  branch  lowered  to  the  four-foot  mark, 
a  convenient  working  height. 

I  wish  to  emphasize  the  fact  that  the  nest  itself  is  usually  not 
moved  or  disturbed,  or  rather  that  it  is  moved  only  with  its 
supports.  The  change  is  one  of  space  relations,  which  may 
change  with  every  passing  breeze,  but  the  relation  of  nest  to 
support  remains  undisturbed. 

This  sudden  displacement  of  the  nesting  bough  is  of  no 
special  importance  to  either  old  or  young,  provided  certain  pre- 
cautions are  taken  to  be  dwelt  upon  a  little  later.  It  is  as  if  an 
apartment  or  living  room  were  removed  from  the  fourth  story 
of  some  human  abode  to  the  ground  floor,  or  in  the  case  of  the 
ground-building  birds  as  if  the  first  story  were  raised  to  a  level 
with  the  second.  The  immediate  surroundings  of  the  nest  re- 
main the  same  in  any  case.  The  nest  might  indeed  be  taken 
from  its  bough  or  from  the  sward,  but  this  would  be  inadvisable, 
chiefly  because  it  would  destroy  the  natural  site  or  the  exact 
conditions  selected  and  in  some  measure  determined  by  the 
birds  themselves. 

For  an  observatory  I  have  adopted  a  green  tent  which  effectu- 
ally conceals  the  student  together  with  his  camera  and  entire 
outfit.     The  reader  will  find  this  fully  described  in 
the  chapter  on  the   tools   of  the  bird-photographer.       Conceal- 
The  tent  is  pitched  beside  the  nest,  and  when  in  opera-       observer 
tion  is  open  only  at  one  point  marked    by  a  small 
square  window,  in  line  with  the  photographic  lens  and  the  tent. 

It  seems  at  first  thought  strange  and  almost  incredible  that 
one  may  take  such  liberties  with  wild  birds,  without  principies 
wreaking  destruction  upon  the  young  or  introducing  which  un- 
such  unnatural  conditions  as  would  be  intolerable  derlie  the 
to  every  true  student  and  lover  of  birds,  but  this  Method 
is  by  no  means  the  case.  No  injury  is  wrought  upon  old  or 


6  Wild  Birds 

young.  The  former  nesting  conditions  are  soon  forgotten,  while 
the  new  are  quickly  adopted  and  defended  with  all  the  boldness 
and  persistence  of  which  birds  are  capable. 

This  method  of  studying  birds  depends  mainly  upon  the 
strength  of  the  parental  instincts  which  bind  old  to  young  by 
an  invisible  chain,  and  upon  the  ease  with  which  a  bird  learns 
to  adapt  itself  to  new  conditions.  Upon  more  complete  analy- 
sis we'  recognize  the  following  psychological  principles : 

(a)  The  strength  of  an  instinct  increases  through  exercise,  and 
may  be  reenforced  or  temporarily  replaced  by  habit; 

(b)  An  instinctive  impulse  may  be  blocked  or  suppressed  by 
any  stronger  or  contrary  impulse ; 

(c)  The  instinct  of  fear  is  often  temporarily  suppressed  by 
the  fighting  instinct,  or  permanently  overcome  by  the  repetition 
of  any  experience  leading  to  the  formation  of  new  habits  or 
associations. 

We  may  also  add: 

(d)  New  habits  are  readily  formed  and  reenforce  or  supplant 
those  of  older  growth; 

(e)  Abstract  ideas,  if  they  form  any  part  of  the  furniture  of 
the  average  bird -mind,  are  extremely  hazy  and  fleeting; 

(f)  Finally  we  must  recall  the  physiological  fact  that  birds 
are  guided  in  most  of  their  operations  by  sight  and  hearing,  not 
by  scent.     Their  olfactory  organ  is  very  rudimentary  at  best, 
and  avails  them  neither  in  finding  food  nor  in  avoiding  enemies. 

After  a  brief  analysis  of  the  parental  instincts  we  will  en- 
deavor to  show  how  the  principles  just  given  are  applied  to  the 
problem  of  approaching  wild  birds  in  the  way  described. 

The  parental  instincts  begin  to  control  the  life  of  the  adult 
with  the  periodic  revival  of  the  reproductive  functions,  and  vary 
greatly  in  their  scope  and  intensity  at  the  different  stages  of 
their  reign  as  well  as  in  different  species  of  birds.  They  are 
periodic,  recurring  at  definite  intervals  during  sexual  life  and 
in  serial  form,  one  kind  of  act  usually  leading  to  the  next  in 
sequence,  and  so  on  until  the  series  is  complete. 

When  more  than  one  litter  is  produced  in  a  season,  the 
series  of  events  is  repeated  with  minor  changes.  If  we  include 


Method  of  Bird  Study  and  Photography       7 

the  typical  migratory  movements,  the  principal  terms  of  the 
reproductive  cycle  may  be  expressed  more  fully  as  follows: 

(1)  Spring  migration  of  the  summer  residents  to  the  place 
of  birth ; 

(2)  Courtship  and  mating,  often  with  the  accompaniment 
of  song ; 

(3)  Selection  of  nesting  site  and  construction  of  the  nest; 

(4)  Egg-laying; 

(5)  Incubation; 

(6)  Care  of  the  young  in  the  nest,  including  feeding,  brood- 
ing, shielding  or  "spreading,"  and  cleaning  nest  and  young; 

(7)  Care  and  "education"  of  young  from  time  of  flight; 

(8)  Fall  migration  to  winter  quarters. 

The  number  of  species  of  birds  already  described  exceeds 
twelve  thousand;  they  are  distributed  over  the  entire  globe,  and 
while  all  conform  closely  to  a  single  anatomical  type  their  vari- 
ability, which  is  expressed  in  instincts,  as  well  as  in  color  and 
form,  is  almost  without  limit. 

The  emotional  life,  and  consequently  the  parental  instinct  is 
greater  in  birds  than  in  any  other  class  of  animals  excepting  the 
mammals.  Their  body  temperature  (100-112°  F.)  exceeds  that 
of  all  other  animals,  and  is  an  index  of  their  great  vitality  and 
consequent  activity.  In  the  breeding  season  their  emotional 
behavior  reaches  its  climax.  This  implies  profound  seasonal 
changes  in  the  body,  especially  in  the  nervous  system,  although 
the  precise  nature  of  these  changes  is  not  known, — and  more 
obviously  in  the  reproductive  cells,  the  vocal  organs,  and  the 
plumage.  All  birds  are  in  full  dress  at  this  season,  and  they  all 
molt  immediately  after  it.  In  many  cases  a  prenuptial  molt 
further  occurs.  The  succession  of  molts  varies  in  different 
species,  but  it  is  always  of  a  very  definite  character.  While 
singing  may  be  exceptionally  heard  at  other  times,  it  is  richest 
in  the  breeding  season;  it  is  always  best  in  the  male,  and  often 
developed  only  in  that  sex. 

Birds  seem  to  follow  one  line  of  conduct,  whether  it  be  build- 
ing nests,  sitting  over  eggs,  or  brooding  and  tending  the  young, 
until  their  instinct  in  any  given  direction  has  been  satisfied,  thus 


8 


Wild  Birds 


normally  completing  one  term  of  the  series  before  passing  to  the 
next  in  sequence.     The  machinery,  however,  rarely  works  with 


Fig.  4.  Cedar-bird  at  nest  shown  in  Figs,  i,  12,  and  13,  prepared  to  feed  young 
by  regurgitation :  a  characteristic  attitude.  The  parallel  outlines  of  the  neck 
show  that  the  gullet  is  full. 

absolute  precision.  Perturbations  are  sure  to  arise  whenever 
a  contrary  impulse  comes  into  the  field,  and  either  blocks  the 
path  or  struggles  for  supremacy. 


Method  of  Bird  Study  and  Photography       9 

Each  term  of  the  cycle  is  capable  of  analysis  into  many 
minor  components,  differing  not  only  in  the  sexes,  but  in  different 
species,  and  subject  to  change  in  different  individuals.  Thus 


Fig.  5.  Nesting  bough  of  Kingbird  removed  from  apple  tree  in  background 
at  a  point  where  extended  arrows  meet,  and  fixed  to  upright  stakes.  Tent- 
cloth  thrown  over  frame  which  is  set  in  position. 

in  feeding  the  young  at  the  nest,  in  such  a  bird  as  the  Robin, 
there  is  a  complicated  routine,  involving  many  different  acts — 
the  search  after  prey  and  its  capture,  the  approach  to  the 
nest  which  is  attended  with  more  or  less  caution  according  to 


10 


Wild  Birds 


circumstances,  the  distribution  of  the  food  which  is  again  subject 
to  varying  conditions,  a  special  call-note  being  often  used  when 
the  reaction  of  a  fledgling  is  slow,  the  inspection  and  cleaning  of 
the  nest,  and  the  brooding  or  shielding  of  the  young.  Thus  not 


Fig.  6.     Female  Kingbird  astride  nest,  protecting  young  from  heat.     This  and  Figs.  7, 
36-39,  from  photographs  made  at  nest  shown  in  Fig.  5. 

only  do  the  many  subordinate  instincts  overlap,  but  their  ex- 
ercise is  modified  by  circumstances.  In  cool  or  wet  weather  a 
bird  will  brood  her  young  in  order  to  keep  them  warm,  but  on 
hot  days  she  will  stand  astride  the  nest  and  with  spread  wings 
shield  them  from  the  heat. 

The  surge  of  parental  feeling  is  often  marked  by  an  inbred 
pugnacity,  which  begins  to  show  itself  in  certain  species  at  the 


Method  of  Bird  Study  and  Photography      1 1 

very  beginning  of  the  breeding  season.  This  fighting  mood, 
which  is  an  adaptation  for  the  protection  of  the  home  and  all 
that  it  contains,  is  by  no  means  a  measure  of  the  other  parental 
impulses.  It  has  a  gradual  rise,  reaches  a  maximum  when  the 


Fig.  7.     Kingbird  far 
hidden  behind  him. 


The  male  with   grasshopper   in   bill,— his   mate,    partly 


young  are  ready  to  leave  the  nest,  at  a  time  when  protection  is 
most  needed,  and  then  gradually  subsides,  like  a  fever  which  has 
run  its  course. 

One  instinct  may  be  overdone,  as  when  a  bird  like  the 
Phcebe  builds  more  than  one  nest,  in  which  case  her  building 
instinct  is  apparently  not  satisfied  by  the  usual  exercise,  or 
another  may  be  scamped,  as  when  Swallows,  House  Martins,  or 


12 


Wild  Birds 


Swifts  desert  their  young  in  order  to  start  on  their  migrations. 
When  one  instinct  has  been  satisfied,  wild  birds  must  obey  the 
next  in  sequence,  which  seems  to  possess  them  with  the  force  of 
a  resistless  passion.  Some  instincts  appear  to  be  diffused,  or 
what  may  be  really  different  emotions  lead  to  similar  conduct, 


FemalC  Bluebird  witl>  cricket  in  bill,  ready  to  enter  nest- 


as  when  Gulls,  which  may  have   dependent   chicks,  are   con- 
mually  picking  up  grass   and   sticks.     They   will   even   carry 
them  to  a  definite  spot  and  settle  over  them,   as  if  actually 
intent  upon  building  a  nest. 

The  reproductive  cycle  is  repeated  in  many  wild  species 
some  of  which,  like  Robins  and  Bluebirds,  rear  two  or  three 


Method  of  Bird  Study  and  Photography      13 

broods  in  the  same  season.  The  semi-domesticated  and  gre- 
garious House  Sparrow,  which  often  builds  lodges  or  large  bag- 
shaped  nests  for  winter  use,  is  credited  with  from  four  to  six 
broods,  according  to  circumstances.  The  domestic  Pigeon, 
which  spends  seventeen  days  in  incubation  and  two  weeks  in 
tending  its  squabs,  will  sometimes  rear  upwards  of  ten  broods, 
while  the  domesticated  fowl  in  the  hands  of  skillful  breeders  has 
been  known  to  produce  over  200  eggs  (in  one  case  251  eggs)  in 
a  single  year. 

While  the  number  of  eggs  to  the  litter  is  approximately 
determinate,  the  actual  number  which  even  some  wild  birds 
are  capable  of  producing  is  surprisingly  great,  and  cases  of 
apparent  discontinuous  laying  have  been  observed.  Thus  the 
Flicker  ordinarily  lays  from  four  to  nine  eggs,  but  by  removing 
one  egg  at  a  time  and  leaving  one  as  a  "nest  egg,"  this  bird  was 
in  one  case  stimulated  to  the  production  of  seventy-one  eggs  in 
seventy-three  days.  In  most  cases  the  instinct  "runs  down" 
before  this  stage  is  reached — if  the  physical  powers  are  not 
actually  exhausted, — and  the  process  is  interrupted  by  fear  or 
some  other  disturbing  factor.  A  new  nest  may  be  built  for 
each  litter,  when  the  old  is  not  repaired  and  made  to  do  service 
a  second  time,  but,  as  often  happens,  no  constructive  work  is 
undertaken,  the  eggs  being  laid  in  a  natural  cavity  or  in  the 
converted  nest  of  some  other  bird. 

In  dealing  with  birds  in  general,  and  more  particularly  with 
the  wilder  and  more  timid  individuals,  the  net  balance  of  their 
conduct  appears  to  be  the  result  of  a  series  of  conflicting  in- 
stincts, although  the  disturbing  factors  may  be  few  in  number. 
Chief  among  these  is  fear,  which  must  be  constantly  reckoned 
with  in  the  analysis  of  animal  behavior.  Again,  an  important 
place  must  be  assigned  to  habit,  or  associative  memory,  and 
possibly  to  emotions  whose  character  is  doubtful.  Yet,  when- 
ever we  attempt  to  measure  animal  behavior  by  rule  and  have 
to  deal  with  intelligence,  we  must  expect  to  meet  with  individual 
exceptions  at  every  turn. 

When  a  pair  are  robbed  during  the  breeding  season,  or  in  any 
way  disturbed  in  mind  or  property,  three  courses  are  open  to 


i4  Wild  Birds 

them,  either  to  desert  and  begin  operations  anew,  to  stay  by 
the  nest  and  save  what  is  left,  or,  having  done  this,  to  fill  up 
the  gap  by  laying  more  eggs.  The  course  eventually  followed 
depends  upon  the  nature  of  the  bird,  or  upon  the  relative 
strength  of  fear,  the  parental  instincts,  and  habit. 

The  parental  instinct,1  reenforced  by  habit,  gradually  in- 
creases until  the  young  are  reared.  It  is  therefore  safest  to 
change  the  nesting  surroundings  when  this  instinct  is  approach- 
ing its  culmination. 

The  general  feeling  of  fear  is  gradually  or  quickly  suppressed, 
according  to  the  value  of  the  different  factors  in  the  equation, 
by  the  parental  instinct,  which  impels  a  bird  at  all  hazards  to 
go  to  its  young  wherever  placed.  This  impulse,  though  it  be 
weak  at  first,  is  strengthened  by  exercise,  or  what  amounts  to 
the  same  thing — by  the  growth  of  habits  or  associations. 

After  a  bird  once  visits  the  nest  in  its  new  position,  it  returns 
again  and  again,  and  in  proportion  as  its  visits  to  the  old  nesting 
place  diminish  and  finally  cease,  its  approaches  to  the  new 
position  become  more  frequent,  until  a  new  habit  has  been 
formed,  or,  if  you  will,  until  the  old  habit  is  reinstated. 

When  the  birds  approach  the  nest,  any  strange  objects  like 
the  stakes  which  support  the  bough,  or  the  tent  which  is  pitched 
beside  it,  arouse  their  sense  of  fear  or  suspicion,  and  they  may 
keep  away  for  a  time  or  advance  with  caution.  If  very  shy, 
like  most  Catbirds,  they  will  sometimes  skirmish  about  the 
tent  for  two  hours  or  more  before  touching  the  nest.  The 
spell  is  usually  broken,  however,  in  from  twenty  minutes  to 
an  hour,  and  I  have  known  a  Chipping  Sparrow  and  Red-eyed 
Vireo.  to  feed  their  young  in  three  minutes  after  the  tent  was 
in  place. 

At  every  approach  to  the  nest  in  its  new  position,  the  birds 
see  the  same  objects  which  work  them  no  ill.  The  tent  stands 

1  This  phrase  will  be  used  for  the  sake  of  brevity  and  convenience  in 
nearly  the  same  sense  as  parental  attachment  or  parental  love.  As  we 
have  seen,  there  is  no  single  parental  instinct,  but  a  complex  series  or 
chain  of  instincts  belonging  to  the  reproductive  period,  and  subject  to 
marked  sexual  differences. 


Method  of  Bird  Study  and  Photography      15 

silent  and  motionless,  unless  it  happens  to  be  windy,  but  the 
young  are  close  by,  and  fear  of  the  new  objects  gradually  wears 
away.  Parental  instinct,  or  in  this  case  maternal  love,  for  the 
instinct  to  cherish  the  young  is  usually  stronger  in  the  mother, 
wins  the  day.  The  mother  bird  comes  to  the  nest  and  feeds  her 
clamoring  brood.  The  spell  is  broken;  she  comes  again.  The 
male  also  approaches,  and  their  visits  are  thereafter  repeated. 

Possibly  the  fears  of  the  old  birds  are  renewed  at  sight  of 
the  window  which  is  now  opened  in  the  tent-front,  and  of  the 
glass  eye  of  the  camera  gleaming  through  it,  but  the  lens  is  also 
silent  and  motionless,  and  soon  becomes  a  familiar  object  to  be 
finally  disregarded.  Again  there  is  the  fear  which  the  sound  of 
the  shutter,  a  sharp  metallic  click,  at  first  inspires,  unless  you 
are  the  fortunate  possessor  of  an  absolutely  silent  and  rapid 
shutter,  an  instrument  which  is  unknown  to  the  trade,  at  least 
in  this  country.  At  its  first  report  when  two  feet  away,  many 
a  bird  will  jump  as  if  shot,  give  an  angry  scream,  and  even  fly 
at  the  tent  as  if  to  exorcise  an  evil  spirit,  while  after  a  few  hours, 
or  on  the  second  day,  they  will  only  wince;  finally  they  will 
not  budge  a  feather  at  this  or  any  other  often  repeated  sound, 
whether  from  shutter,  steam  whistle,  locomotive,  or  the  human 
voice.  This  illustrates  the  effect  of  the  alarm  clock  over  again. 
At  our  first  experience  with  this  nerve-wracking  machine,  we 
start  from  deep  sleep  and  promptly  heed  its  summons ;  then  we 
are  apt  to  mind  it  less  and  less  until  we  sleep  on  serenely  in 
spite  of  it.  If  we  were  to  place  an  alarm  clock  on  or  near  the 
nesting  bough,  and  let  it  off  at  regular  but  not  too  frequent 
intervals,  the  birds  would  soon  learn  to  disregard  it  as  we  do, 
and  as  some  of  them  disregard  the  babel  of  a  city  street. 

It  is  the  young,  the  young,  always  THE  YOUNG,  in  whom  the 
interest  of  the  old  birds  is  centered,  and  about  whom  their  lives 
revolve.  They  are  the  strong  lure,  the  talisman,  the  magnet  to 
which  the  parent  is  irresistibly  drawn.  The  tree,  the  branch, 
the  nest  itself,  what  are  these  in  comparison  with  the  young, 
for  whom  alone  they  exist? 

With  some  species  it  is  possible  to  make  the  necessary 
change  without  evil  consequences  when  there  are  eggs  in  the  nest; 


I6  Wild  Birds 

with  others  we  must  wait  until  the  young  are  from  four  to  nine 
days  old.     It  is  all  a  question  of  the  strength  of  the  parental 
instinct,  and  this  varies  between  wide  limits  in  differ- 
When  to      ent  Species,  and  very  considerably  between  different 
change  the   individuals'     From  the  nature  of  the  case  there  can  be 
:mg        no  infallible  rule.     If  we  know  little  of  the  habits  of  the 
birds  in  question,  it  is  safest  to  wait  until  the  seventh  to  the 
ninth  day  after  the  young  are  hatched,  or  when  in  many  passerine 


Fig.  g.  Outdoor  Observatory  for  the  Study  of  Wild  Birds— complete, 
showing  the  observation  tent,  the  nesting  trunk  (in  this  case  belonging 
to  the  House  Wren)  mounted  on  a  pivot  and  surrounded  by  the  protective 
wire  net,  with  white  photographic  screen  at  back.  The  running  series  of 
Wren  pictures  fFigs.  16-30)  were  made  at  this  nest,  Northfield,  N.  H., 
July,  1901. 

birds,  as  Robins,  Orioles,  and  Waxwings,  the  feather-shafts  of 
the  wing-quills  begin  to  appear  in  the  young,  or,  better,  when 
they  project  from  one  quarter  to  one  half  inch  beyond  the 
feather-tubes.  At  this  period  the  parental  instinct  is  reaching 
its  maximum,  and,  what  is  equally  important,  the  sense  of  fear 
has  not  appeared  in  the  young. 

When  we  try  to  formulate  a  rule,  however,  we  at  once  en- 
counter numerous  exceptions.     Thus  in  Cuckoos   the  feathers 


Method  of  Bird  Study  and  Photography     1 7 

do  not  shed  their  envelopes  gradually  as  in  most  birds,  but 
remain  sheathed  up  to  the  last  day  in  the  nest.  Of  greater 
importance  is  the  understanding  of  the  principles  involved, 
and  with  these  in  mind  and  judiciously  applied  very  few  mis- 
takes should  be  made. 

At  the  beginning  of  observations  a  nest  with  eggs  should  be 
watched,  but  not  disturbed.     When  the  period  of  incubation 
has    been    determined,    and    the    time    of    hatching 
known,    the    young   may    be   examined    and    photo-     proce(jure 
graphed  if  it  is  desired.     At  all  events,  they  should 
be  watched  until  the  critical  time  arises  for  closer  study.     This 
decided  upon  in  the  manner  already  suggested,  circumstances 
must  determine  the  course  to  be  followed. 

If  the  nest,  like  that  of  a  Robin  or  Kingbird,  is  saddled  to 
the  branch  of  a  tree,  saw  off  the  whole  limb  and  nail  it  to  stakes 
driven  into  the  ground,  so  placed  as  always  to  give  the  best 
light.  The  nesting  bough,  in  case  there  is  one,  should  be  set 
with  its  long  axis  parallel  with  the  course  of  the  sun,  but  the 
position  of  the  bough  or  tent  may  be  changed  during  the  day 
when  exceptional  conditions  render  it  necessary. 

Either  a  dark  foliage  or  a  sky  background  may  be  chosen  for 
the  nest,  according  to  the  desire  of  the  operator  or  the  possi- 
bilities of  the  situation.  In  the  first  edition  of  this  work  it  was 
suggested  that  whenever  a  suitable  natural  background  could 
not  be  obtained,  it  would  be  possible  to  place  either  light  or 
dark  screens  behind  the  nesting  bough,  but  that  no  experiments 
in  this  direction  had  then  been  made.  I  have  since  adopted  a 
white  photographic  screen,  and  often  find  it  a  most  useful 
adjunct  to  the  outdoor  observatory.  The  birds  pay  little  heed 
to  it,  except  to  find  in  it  a  useful  perch  and  vantage  point  for 
their  own  observations.  The  tent  is  then  to  be  placed  in 
position,  or  it  may  be  pitched  and  left  overnight  beside  the 
nest.1  In  other  words,  operations  may  begin  at  once  or  be 
postponed  until  the  following  day,  the  better  plan  for  a  beginner 
until  he  has  mastered  minor  difficulties,  which,  though  small  in 

1  Directions  for  the  construction  and  use  of  tent  and  screen  are  given 
in  Chapter  III. 


1 8  Wild  Birds 

themselves,  are  far  from  unimportant.  When  the  tent  is  closed 
absolute  silence  must  be  maintained,  for  while  this  is  not  always 
necessary  it  is  the  best  rule  to  follow  during  the  first  days  of 
observation. 

The  best  time  to  begin  is  from  eight  to  nine  o'clock  in  the 
morning,  because  the  young  will  then  have  been  fed,  and  the 
sun  will  be  getting  high  enough  for  the  most  rapid  photographic 
work.  One  may  spend  as  many  hours  a  day,  and  as  many  days 
at  one  nest,  as  time  permits  or  inclination  decides.  I  will  only 
suggest  that  the  second  day  is  always  better  than  the  first,  and 
that  the  third  or  fourth  is  always  sure  to  bring  something  new. 
If  one  would  learn  the  nesting  habits  of  any  species  thoroughly, 
it  will  hardly  do  to  rely  upon  one  nest.  The  more  you  see  of 
different  nests  and  different  birds  the  better. 

I  usually  spend  five  or  six  hours  in  the  tent,  from  nine  in  the 
morning  until  three  in  the  afternoon,  when  the  weather  is  fine. 
If  the  camping  ground  is  near  my  house,  as  it  often  is,  I  leave 
the  tent  for  half  an  hour  at  noon,  but  if  it  is  far,  I  carry  a  lunch 
and  spend  the  day.  When  possible,  I  am  always  on  hand  during 
the  last  day  of  life  at  the  nest,  to  see  the  young  leave  it,  usually 
one  at  a  time,  and  to  witness  the  manoeuvres  of  the  parents  in 
conducting  them  to  the  nearest  trees. 

Under  some  circumstances,  as  when  studying  Gulls  and  other 
sea  fowl,  I  have  found  it  distinctly  advantageous  to  use  two 
tents,  occupying  one  in  the  morning  and  the  other  in  the  after- 
noon, or  setting  the  second  tent  one  or  two  days  in  advance,  so 
that  when  required  it  will  have  become  a  familiar  object  to  the 
birds,  and  no  time  need  be  lost. 

Young  birds  from  one  to  five  days  old  cannot,  as  a  rule, 
stand  excessive  heat.  Even  when  fed  and  brooded  they  will 
sometimes  succumb,  and  here  lies  the  serious  danger 
tionTtobe  to  be  guarded  against.  A  nest  of  very  young  birds 
observed  we^  shaded  by  foliage  cannot  be  safely  carried  into 
the  direct  sunshine  of  a  hot  summer's  day,  hence  the 
importance  of  beginning  operations  at  the  proper  time  when 
the  weather  is  suitable,  and,  further,  of  not  allowing  your  en- 
thusiasm to  get  the  better  of  your  judgment. 


Method  of  Bird  Study  and  Photography      19 

The  morning  of  a  clear,  mild  day  is  preferable,  but  since  we 
cannot  order  the  weather  it  is  better  to  leave  the  birds  to  them- 
selves if  it  promises  to  be  excessively  hot  or  windy. 


Fig.  10.     Female  Chestnut-sided  Warbler  shielding  the  young  on  a  warm  day 
Photographed  from  tent  shown  in  Figs,  a  and  3. 

The  young  may  be  fed  or  handled  as  much  as  one  wishes, 
provided  the  instinct  of  fear  has  not  developed.  If  you  are  un- 
certain as  to  this  and  your  aim  is  to  study  the  nesting  habits, 


20  Wild  Birds 

it  is  better  to  avoid  approaching,  touching,  or  in  any  way  dis- 
turbing the  young  after  the  flight  feathers  have  appeared. 
The  cutting  of  leaves  or  twigs  which  obstruct  the  light  or  cast 
undesirable  shadows  should  be  done  before  this  time. 

On  the  other  hand,  investigations  of  the  young  which  require 
accurate  weighing,  measurements,  or  photographs  of  the  birds 
themselves,  place  the  matter  in  a  different  light.  With  these 
objects  in  view  the  nest  must  be  frequently  approached  and 
the  young  taken  out,  and  for  such  studies  the  change  of  the 
nesting  site  offers  such  obvious  advantages  that  it  is  needless 
to  dwell  upon  them.  In  taking  down  the  nesting  bough  it  is 
often  necessary  to  touch  the  nest,  but  this  does  no  harm. 

Young  birds  eight  or  nine  days  old  stand  the  heat  well,  pro- 
vided they  are  fed,  but  on  very  hot  days  they  should  not  be 
allowed  to  go  without  food  for  more  than  two  hours  at  the 
longest.  Should  the  parents  bring  no  food  during  this  time,  it 
is  better  to  feed  the  young  in  the  nest,  or  to  return  the  nest  to 
its  original  site,  and  suspend  operations  until  the  next  day. 

Sudden  storms  of  wind  and  rain  or  equally  severe  blasts  of 
torrid  heat  are  liable  to  arise  on  any  summer's  day  in  the 
country,  but  their  evil  effects  can  be  greatly  mitigated,  if  not 
overcome,  by  careful  watching.  Special  care  should  always  be 
taken  not  to  cut  away  too  much  foliage  around  a  nest  of  very 
young  birds.  As  already  suggested,  one  should  follow  the  rule 
of  leaving  the  birds  to  their  own  devices  in  days  of  unusual  heat 
or  humidity. 

As  has  been  already  said,  the  old  birds  may  be  expected  to 
come  to  the  nest  in  from  twenty  minutes  to  an  hour,  when  the 
tent  is  brought  into  immediate  use  after  removal  of  the  nesting 
bough.  It  is  naturally  impossible  to  predict  exactly  what  will 
happen  in  any  given  case  until  the  experiment  is  tried,  since  the 
personal  equation  or  individuality  of  the  birds  themselves  is 
an  unknown  and  variable  factor.  One  thing  only  is  certain, 
that  the  parental  instincts,  reenforced  by  habit,  will  win  in  the 
end,  that  they  will  cast  out  fear,  and  draw  the  birds  to  their 
young.  If  proper  precautions  are  taken,  everything  should  go 
well,  and  the  young  leave  their  nest  in  due  course. 


Method  of  Bird  Study  and  Photography     21 


When  the  first  edition  of  this  work  was  published  in  1901,  I 
had  used  the  tent,  with  or  without  changing  the  nesting  site,  in 
the  case  of  twenty-six  nests,  belonging  to  fifteen  Extent  of 
species  of  birds;  the  list  is  now  extended  to  embrace  Application 
fifty -nine  nests,  belonging  to  thirty  species,  and  the  of  the 

experiments,  which  have  been  continued  through  Method 
five  successive  seasons  (1899-1903),  may  be  regarded  as  fairly 
establishing  the  value  of  the  method.  That  the  extent  of  its 
application  is  wide  is  equally  clear.1  In  the  entire  list,  which 
is  now  tabulated  for  the  benefit  of  future  workers,  the  age  of 
the  young  is  in  most  cases  estimated  from  the  data  at  hand, 
which  are  only  approximately  accurate. 

EXPERIMENTS  IN  THE  USE  OF  OBSERVATION  TENT  AND  IN  THE  CHANGE 
OF  NESTING  SITE. 


BIRDS  AND  NESTS. 

TIME. 

NUMBER 

OF 

YOUNG. 

AGE 

OF 

YOUNG. 

r 

Redwing  Blackbird  (Nest  un- 

disturbed)   

July   14,  1899 

3 

ii  days. 

a 

Redwing  Blackbird  (Nest 

3 

swayed  down  one  foot)  
Catbird  (Nest  undisturbed)  .  .  . 

July   19,  1900 
July  23,  1899 

3 

2 

5  days. 
8  days. 

4 

Catbird   (Position  of  nest  un- 

5 

changed)  
Catbird    (Nesting   bough    dis- 

July 26,  1899 

3 

3-4  days. 

placed  ten  feet)  

Aug.     4,  1899 

3 

7-8  days. 

6 

Catbird  (Nest  undisturbed)  .  .  . 

June  21,  1900 

4 

7  days. 

1 

Cedar-bird     (Nesting    bush 

moved  twenty  feet)  

Aug.     3,  1899 

4 

9-  10  days 

8 

Cedar-bird      (Nesting     bough 

displaced  forty  feet)  

Aug.  21,  1899 

4 

6  days. 

1  Mr.  John  B.  Parker,  of  Cleveland,  Ohio,  has  further  successfully 
applied  the  method  to  ten  additional  species,  including  the  Field,  Vesper, 
and  Grasshopper  Sparrows,  the  Acadian  Flycatcher  and  Wood  Pewee,  the 
Goldfinch,  Cardinal  Bird,  Yellow-billed  Cuckoo,  and  the  Cooper's  Hawk,  a 
bird  of  an  exceedingly  shy  and  suspicious  nature. 

Mr.  Ned  Dearborn,  of  the  Field  Columbian  Museum,  Chicago,  has  also 
used  the  method  with  valuable  results.  (See  Birds  in  their  Relation  to 
Man,  by  Clarence  M.  Weed  and  Ned  Dearborn;  the  J.  B.  Lippincott  Co., 
1903-) 


22 


Wild  Birds 


BIRDS  AND  NESTS. 

TIME. 

NUMBER 

OF 

YOUNG. 

AGE 

OF 

YOUNG. 

9     Cedar-bird      (Nesting     bough 
cut  off  and  moved  fifty  feet) 
10     Cedar-bird  (Nest  in  pine  tree 
bough  moved  fifty  feet)  .... 
1  1     Cedar-bird  (Nest  in  apple  tree 
fourteen   feet   up;      branch 
moved  twenty  feet)  
12     Cedar-bird     (Nest    built      of 
bright-colored  yarn  in  apple 
tree,  fifteen  feet  from  ground 
moved  thirty  feet  to  point 
opposite  porch,  where  it  was 
constantly  in  view) 

Aug.  23,  1899 
July   14,  1900 

July     6,  1901 

July     9,  1901 
Aug.     3,  1899 

July     5,  1900 
July     2,  1902 

June  23,  1902 
Aug.     9,  1899 

July  25,  1900 
June  13,  1901 
July  n,  1901 
Aug.  15,  1899 

Aug.     5,  1901 
[une  i  <;,  1900  1 

2 

4 
4 

5 

2 

4 
3 

3 
3 

3 
3 
3 

4 

5 
4  eggs 

10  days 
7-8  days. 

9  days. 

5  days. 
8  days. 

9  days. 
5-6  days. 

9  days. 
7  days. 

6  days. 
7  days. 
6  days. 
5  days. 

7  days. 

13     Red-eyed  Vireo  (Nesting  twig 
lowered  one  foot)  
14     Red-  eyed  Vireo  (Nesting  tree 
cut   down   and   taken   from 
woods  forty  feet  to  open)... 
1  5     Red-eyed  Vireo  (Nest  in  maple 
ten  feet  up  ;  tent  pitched  on 
staging  beside   undisturbed 
nest)   .   . 

1  6     Warbling  Vireo  (In  apple  tree 
seven     feet     from     ground; 
moved  to  an  adjoining  field 
near  house  one  hundred  and 
sixty  feet)     .  . 

17     Robin  (Nesting  bough  cut  off 
and  moved  thirty  feet)  .  .  . 
1  8     Robin  (Nest  in  oak  thirty  feet 
up;    branch  moved  to  open 
field  sixty  feet  away)  
19     Robin  (Nest  in  pine  fifteen  feet 
up  ;  branch  removed  twenty- 
five  feet)  .    ... 

20     Robin     (Nest    in    apple    tree 
twenty    feet    from    ground; 
moved  one  hundred  feet) 
21      Bluebird    (Nest-hole  in   apple 
tree;     moved    fifty   feet    to 
open  field)  
22     Bluebird      (Cavity     in      dead 
apple-branch     twelve     feet 
up;     whole   moved    twenty 
feet)  * 
23     Chestnut  -sided      Warbler 
(Bushes  cleared  in  front  of 
nest)  

Method  of  Bird  Study  and  Photography     23 


BIRDS  AND  NESTS 

TIME. 

NUMBER 

OF 

YOUNG. 

AGE 

OF 

YOUNG. 

24     Chestnut  -  s  i  d  e  d     Warbler 

(Bushes  cleared  in  front  of 

nest)  

June  28,  1900 

4 

4  days. 

25      Night  Hawk  (Nesting  site  with 

young  enclosed  with  wattled 

twigs) 

June  29,  1900 

i 

r  davs 

26     Baltimore      Oriole       (Nesting 

J     V1C*JO. 

branch  in  apple  tree  ;  moved 
twenty-five  feet)  

June  25,  1900 

3 

8-9  days. 

27      Baltimore  Oriole  (Nest  in  elm 

fifty     feet     from     ground; 

moved  with  limb  weighing 

several  hundred  pounds)  .  .  . 

June  25,  1901 

3 

10  days. 

28     Kingbird       (Nesting      branch 

moved  twenty  feet) 

July    2,  1900 

2 

6  days. 

29     Kingbird       (Nesting      branch 

moved  twenty-five  feet)  .... 

July      2,  1900 

4 

7  days. 

30      Kingbird    (Apple    tree   fifteen 

feet  ;  moved  forty  feet)  .... 

July   23,  1901 

3 

8  days. 

31      Wilson's  Thrush  (Nest  in  tus- 

sock;    whole    moved    from 

swamp  to  open  fifty  feet)  .  . 

July     9,  1900 

3 

10  days. 

32     Chipping  Sparrow        (Nesting 
bough  moved  twenty  feet)  .  . 

July  ii,  1900 

4 

4-5  days. 

33     Chipping    Sparrow   and   Cow- 

bird   (In   apple  tree  twenty 

feet  ;   removed  sixty  feet)  .  . 

July   23,  1901 

i 

8  days. 

34     Brown  Thrush   (Nest  in  thorn 

bush;   moved  fifteen  feet).  . 

July  ii,  1900 

3 

4  days. 

35     Song  Sparrow    (Nest  in  dead 

sapling  ;  moved  forty  feet  to 

open)  

July   17,  1900 

3 

5  days. 

36     Kingfisher      (Nest     in     bank; 

opened  at  rear)  

July   23,  1900 

5 

9  days. 

37     White-bellied    Swallow    (Nest 

box   lowered    to    height    of 

four  feet)  

July  n,  1901 

4 

10  days. 

38     Sand     Martin     (Nest     undis- 

turbed)                         

June  21,  1901 

— 

— 

39     Chebec    (Nest    in    apple    tree 

fifteen    feet    from    ground; 

nesting  branch  moved  thirty 
feet)                              

June  29,  1901 

4 

8-9  days. 

40     Chebec  (Nest  in  pine  eighteen 

feet   from   ground;     branch 

displaced  twelve  feet)  

June  10,  1902 

3 

9  days. 

41      Chickadee   (Nest  in  stub  five 

feet    high;    moved    twenty 

feet)  

June  12,  1901 

6 

10  days. 

Wild  Birds 


BIRDS  AND  NESTS. 

TIME. 

NUMBER 

OF 

YOUNG. 

AGE 

OF 

YOUNG. 

42 

Chickadee   (Converted  Wood- 

pecker's hole  in  stub   four 

feet  tall)  

July  22,  1901 

— 

— 

43 

Rose-breasted  Grosbeak  (Nest 

in  thorn-apple  twelve    feet 

up  ;  moved  forty  feet)  

June  13,  1901 

4 

7  days. 

44 

Towhee  Bunting  (Ground-nest 

with     young     enclosed     by 
twig-fence)  

June  21,  1901 

4 

10  days. 

45 

House    Wren    (In    abandoned 

nest-hole     of     Woodpecker 

eight  feet  up  ;  moved  twenty 

five  feet)                                 .  . 

July   1  8,  1901 

— 

— 

46 

House  Wren  (Nest,  abandoned 

hole  of  Chickadee  in   dead 

apple-limb  twelve  feet  from 

ground  ;     removed       thirty 

feet) 

Aug.  13,  1901 

4 

7  days. 

47 

House  Wren  (Nest  in  horizon- 

tal prong  of  apple  tree  five 

feet    from  ground;    moved 

7  60  feet  to  a  point  where  its 

original  site  was  completely 

hidden    by    an    intervening 

house  and  orchard) 

Aug.  26   1901 

1  2—13  days 

48 

Red-breasted     Nuthatch     (In 

dead  branch  of  apple  tree 

ten  feet  from  ground;    re- 

moved thirty  feet)  

June    7,  1902 

— 

lo-n  days 

49 

Spotted    Sandpiper    (Ground- 

nest  undisturbed)  

June    4,  1902 

4  eggs 

— 

50 

Flicker    (Nest-hole    drilled   in 

dead   trunk   of   apple   tree  ; 

moved  fifteen  feet,  set  up  on 

pivot  in  field,  and  screened 

with    wire    netting;       large 

white    photographic    screen 

51 

placed  at  back)  
Crow    (Nest   seven   feet   from 

June  16,  1902 

6 

5  days. 

apex  of  sapling  pine  twenty 

feet  from  ground;    ten   feet 

of  tree  holding  nest  cut  off, 

set  up  thirty  feet  away,  and 

protected  with  wire  screen). 

June    4,  1902 

4 

Nearly  full- 

fledged. 

5* 

Arctic    or    Common    (?)    Tern 

(Matinicus     Rock,     Maine  ; 

rock-nest  undisturbed).  .... 

July   12,  1902 

2  eggs 

— 

Method  of  Bird  Study  and  Photography     25 


BIRDS  AND  NESTS. 

TIME. 

NUMBER 

OF 

YOUNG. 

AGE 

OP 

YOUNG. 

53      Wilson's      Tern      (Weepecket 
Islands,       Buzzard's      Bay, 

Massachusetts  ;           ground- 

nest  undisturbed)  
54     Great  Herring  Gull  (No-Man's- 

Aug.     i,  1904 

3  eggs 

— 

Land    Island,   Maine;   rock- 

nest  undisturbed)  .  . 

July  14    1902 

2  youn  g 

i—2  days 

and  i 

'pipped" 

55      Great     Herring     Gull     (Great 

egg 

Duck  Island,  Maine  ;  ground- 

nest  undisturbed)  

July   18,  1902 

2  eggs,  i 



"pipped" 

56     Great     Herring     Gull     (Great 

Duck  Island,  Maine;    rock- 

nest)  
57     Great     Herring     Gull     (Great 

July  21,  1902 

3  eggs 

— 

Duck  Island,  Maine  ;  ground- 

nest)  

July     6,  1903 

3  eggs 



58     Great     Herring     Gull     (Great 

Duck  Island,  Maine;   family 

on  "preserve  ")  
59     Great     Herring     Gull     (Great 

July     7,  1903 

3  chicks 

3-4  weeks. 

Duck  Island,  Maine  ;  ground- 

nest)  

July     7,  1903 

3  eggs 

— 

In  only  four  or  five  cases  when  the  nest  with  its  supports  has 
been  displaced  (Nos.  8,  20,  21,  35)  have  the  young  come  to 
grief,  in  the  course  of  five  years'  work.  In  addition,  a  young 
Cowbird  was,  as  I  supposed,  stolen  by  a  cat.  These  accidents 
were  due,  moreover,  in  all  but  possibly  two  cases,  to  preventible 
causes.  A  nest  of  Cedar  Waxwings,  though  fed  by  both  birds 
and  shielded  almost  constantly,  were  overcome  by  the  heat  and 
humidity.  Some  Bluebirds  and  Robins,  both  of  which  fed  their 
young,  were  interfered  with  by  hay-makers  and  workers  in  the 
field.  A  brood  of  Song  Sparrows  also  succumbed  to  the  heat  on 
a  day  which  the  Weather  Bureau  in  New  England  reported  as 
the  hottest  ever  recorded.  In  addition  to  this,  their  nest, 
which  was  moved  to  the  open,  happened  to  be  placed  in  the 
crotch  of  a  dead  sapling,  so  that  the  birds  were  exposed  on  all 


26 


Wild  Birds 


sides.     There  was  doubt  in  the  case  of  a  nest  of  House  Wrens 
(No.  45),  the  young  of  which  were  not  seen.     They  became  so 


Fig.  ii.  Red-breasted  Nuthatch  carrying  insect  to  nest  in  dead 
trunk  of  apple  tree.  The  bird  has  the  singular  practice  of  smear- 
ing the  entrance  with  drops  of  pitch,  some  of  which  are  seen  just 
above  the  opening.  This  Nuthatch  always  entered  right  foot  first. 

tame  that  they  would  come  boldly  within  reach  of  the  hand,  and 
if  their  young  were  destroyed  the  culprit  must  have  been  a 
squirrel  or  a  weasel. 

Kingbirds  have  remained  in  the  nest  eleven  days  after  the 
change,  Robins  a  week,  Cedar-birds  six  days.  A  glance  at  the 
table  will  show  that  in  the  case  of  the  Chestnut-sided  Warbler 
(23),  the  Spotted  Sandpiper  (49),  and  a  number  of  Gulls  and 
Terns,  observations  were  begun  when  there  were  eggs,  and  no 
doubt  there  are  many  species  or  individuals  in  which  it  would 
be  possible  to  watch  from  the  tent  the  whole  family-life,  from 
hatching  to  flight  from  the  nest,  but  only  careful  and  experi- 


Method  of  Bird  Study  and  Photography     27 

enced  students  should  experiment  in  this  direction.  It  all 
depends  on  the  strength  of  the  parental  instincts  at  the  period 
in  question.  As  was  said  in  a  former  edition,  where  the  attach- 
ment to  nest  and  eggs  is  strong,  as  in  Owls,  Fish  Hawks,  Flickers, 
Kingbirds,  and  the  Chipping  Sparrows,  to  mention  a  few  cases, 
we  might  look  for  success,  but  the  subject  does  not  admit  of  this 
simple  analysis.  Setting  aside  individual  variation  which  con- 
fronts us  at  every  turn,  we  must  remember  that  what  we  call 
for  convenience  parental  instinct,  as  has  been  explained,  is  a 
complex  of  instincts,  embracing  many  distinct  kinds  of  activities, 
such  as  nest-building,  egg-laying,  incubation,  brooding,  feeding, 
and  care  of  the  young,  in  the  course  of  which  fear  is  a  variable 
factor.  Thus,  the  sense  of  fear  is  completely  blocked  in  the 
Flicker  by  the  brooding  instinct;  when  possessed  of  this  im- 
pulse you  may  knock  loud  and  long  at  her  door,  saw  open  her 
house,  and  even  take  her  in  the  hand,  but  she  will  not  budge  a 
feather ;  yet  a  few  days  later,  after  the  young  need  this  attention 
less,  the  same  bird  becomes  very  shy.  The  persistency  of  the 
sitting  hen  is  proverbial,  and  in  attempting  to  thwart  her  plans 
the  beautiful  precision  of  her  instinct,  which  is  apt  to  be  re- 
garded as  an  index  of  total  depravity,  is  not  sufficiently  ap- 
preciated. 

Having  early  expressed  my  confidence  in  the  future  of  the 
movable  tent  as  an  observatory  for  the  study  of  nesting  birds, 
I  am  pleased  to  find  that  many  field-ornithologists  have  adopted 
it  with  success  in  various  parts  of  the  country.  As  a  blind  for 
watching  the  scenes  at  the  nest  it  fulfils  every  requirement,  and 
all  questions  of  accessories,  or  even  of  color,  for  the  purpose  of 
concealment,  are  of  minor  importance,  as  students  of  animal 
behavior  will  soon  learn.  The  tent  may  prove  serviceable  in 
watching  the  building  of  the  nest,  in  such  species  or  individuals 
as  have  a  strong  attachment  to  chosen  sites,  and  whose  plans 
are  not  easily  disturbed  by  trifles;  in  many  cases,  however, 
no  blind  is  needed,  perfect  quiet  being  the  only  requisite.  If 
experiments  in  this  direction  are  made,  care  should  be  taken 
not  to  place  the  tent  too  near,  at  least  on  the  first  day.  No 
doubt  many  kinds  of  birds  may  be  attracted  by  food  and  other 


28  Wild  Birds 

lures  to  the  tent,  which  soon  commands  no  more  attention  from 
them  than  a  rock  in  the  landscape,  but  the  possible  rewards  of 
sedentary  experiments  in  this  direction  are  too  uncertain  to 
arouse  much  enthusiasm  in  the  mind  of  the  active  bird  student. 

This  method  of  studying  the  daily  life  of  wild  birds  is  recom- 
mended chiefly  to  those  careful  students  who  are  making  a  study 
of  the  habits  and  instincts  of  animals,  and  who  are 
Objections  prepared  to  devote  much  time  and  energy  in  the 
field.  The  indiscriminate  use  of  any  method  of 
studying  the  home-life  of  birds  is  fraught  with 
danger  to  the  young,  and  to  displace  a  nest  at  the  wrong  time 
in  order  to  photograph  it,  or  to  leave  it  unprotected,  may  often 
open  wide  the  door  of  destruction.  When  the  study  of  birds 
with  the  camera  is  pursued'  as  a  recreation,  the  rule  should  be 
to  disturb  the  nest  and  its  occupants  as  little  as  possible. 

Since  an  account  of  the  method  was  first  published,  the 
chief  objections  which  have  been  raised  against  it  are:  (i)  that 
the  displacement  of  the  nest  is  liable  to  expose  the  young  to  new 
dangers,  especially  when  it  is  removed  from  a  place  of  con- 
cealment to  a  conspicuous  point  in  a  field,  and  (2)  that  the  in- 
experienced, ambitious  to  use  their  cameras,  would  be  tempted 
to  move  a  nest,  without  serious  intent,  and  thus  invite  that 
destruction  to  our  birds,  which  is  already  far  too  great,  and 
which  every  lover  of  nature  should  do  his  utmost  to  prevent. 

Under  the  first  head  would  fall  the  liability  of  the  parents  to 
desert,  exposure  of  the  young  to  heat,  cold,  storms,  and  above 
all  to  that  inveterate  enemy  of  the  nestling  bird — the  remorseless 
cat.  Enough  has  already  been  said  about  the  weather,  which  in 
all  protected  nests  does  not  enter  into  the  question,  and  in  all 
exposed  ones  must  be  guarded  against  in  the  ways  suggested. 
The  nesting  bough,  when  firmly  fixed  to  supports,  is  more  secure 
than  it  could  have  possibly  been  before.  The  designs  of  the 
cat  may  be  completely  frustrated  by  the  wire-screen,  or  when  the 
branch  or  trunk  holding  the  nest  (as  in  the  case  of  a  Wood- 
pecker or  Bluebird)  is  mounted  on  a  pivot,  by  a  simple  device 
to  be  later  described.  In  referring  to  this  subject  in  the  earlier 
edition  it  was  said  that  predacious  animals  of  all  kinds  seemed 


Method  of  Bird  Study  and  Photography     29 

to  avoid  the  displaced  nest  as  if  it  were  a  new  means  to  entrap 
and  slay  them.  It  is  best,  however,  not  to  stake  too  much  upon 
this  assurance,  for  no  nest  of  young  birds  is  ever  safe,  however 
perfectly  concealed.  We  must  also  be  aware  that  cats  and  all 
wild  depredators,  like  the  birds  themselves,  soon  become  ac- 
customed to  new  objects  and  surroundings.  Whenever  it  is 
possible,  the  displaced  nest,  or  indeed  any  ground-nest  which 
is  not  disturbed,  should  be  protected  by  a  wire  net,  which  can 
be  easily  constructed  so  that  it  will  stop  both  feline  and  rodent, 
and  even  the  snake.  It  is  impossible  to  overestimate  the  im- 
portance of  this  screen,  especially  in  a  country  overrun  by  cats. 

The  only  depredator  of  whom  I  stand  in  fear  is  the  irre- 
sponsible or  malicious  small  boy,  and  to  anticipate  his  possi- 
bilities for  evil  it  is  best  to  take  a  look  at  the  nest  now  and  then 
when  not  encamped  beside  it. 

The  possible  failure  of  parental  instinct  and  consequent  de- 
sertion of  the  young  is  the  most  important  objection  with  which 
we  have  to  deal.  While  it  is  impossible  to  predict  what  in- 
dividual variation  may  sometimes  effect,  experience  has  now 
amply  proved  that  in  the  large  number  of  cases  already  dealt 
with  (see  table  of  experiments)  this  seldom  or  never  happens 
at  the  height  of  the  breeding  season,  provided  the  precautions 
already  suggested  are  taken.  To  ensure  success,  the  parental 
instincts  must  be  approaching  their  climax,  and  not  on  the 
wane.  The  remarkable  fact,  not  unknown  to  breeders  of 
domestic  Pigeons,  has  already  been  noticed,  that  certain  birds 
will  occasionally  desert  their  young,  when  passing  under  the 
sway  of  a  new  impulse.  While  the  attunement  of  the  instincts 
must  be  fairly  perfect  for  the  average  individual,  whether  adult 
or  young,  exceptions  abound,  and  are  of  course  liable  to  be 
encountered  at  any  moment  in  the  field.  The  best  answer  to 
this  question,  however,  is  given  by  the  record  of  actual  ex- 
periments (see  table  and  comment). 

The  second  objection,  which  refers  to  the  possible  harm  done 
by  the  young  or  inexperienced  observer,  need  give  us  little 
concern,  for  novelty  soon  wears  away  and  the  practice  requires 
a  far  greater  expenditure  of  patience,  energy,  and  time  than  an 


3o  Wild  Birds 

amateur  would  willingly  give.  I  would  not  vaunt  the  patience 
of  the  naturalist,  who  is  accustomed  to  work  in  the  field  or 
laboratory  for  weeks  or  months  to  attain  his  desired  ends,  and 


Fig.  I! 

arrows. 


.    Cedar-bird's  nest— No.  10  of  table— in  original  position  marked  by 
See  Figs.  4  and  13. 


those  ends  he  will  attain  provided  they  can  be  compassed  by 
intelligence,  industry,  and  skill,  for  patience  is  the  stock  in  most 
successful  trades,  but,  while  success  may  never  come  because 
of  it  alone,  none  can  be  assured  without  it. 

In  the  ten  days  or  two  weeks  or  more  of  life  at  the  nest 
events  move  rapidly  and   the  question  of  time  is  important. 


Method  of  Bird  Study  and  Photography     3  r 

Any  interruptions  are  therefore  opportunities  for  the  display  of 
patience  rather  than  for  the  increase  of  knowledge. 

We  have  already  seen  that  the  displacement  of  the  nest  or 
nesting  branch  does  not  introduce  unnatural  conditions  of  any 


Fig.  13.  Cedar-bird's  nest  in  its  new  site.  Nesting  bough  moved  fifty  feet  to  open  field. 
Compare  Figs.  I,  4,  and  12. 

importance  into  the  life  of  the  birds.  Of  course  every  change 
wrought  by  man  is  in  a  certain  sense  unnatural.  If  we  pluck  a 
single  leaf  from  a  tree,  that  tree  is  no  longer  in  its  natural  state, 
but  the  change  counts  for  nothing.  If  we  keep  on  plucking 
leaves,  however,  a  time  will  come  when  the  arm  of  the  balance 
is  disturbed,  and  the  denuded  tree  is  sure  to  suffer.  The  re- 
moval of  a  leaf  or  twig  about  a  nest  is  of  no  practical  conse- 
quence, but  this  should  not  be  carried  too  far,  both  on  account  of 


32  Wild  Birds 

the  young  which  need  the  protection  of  shade,  and  for  the  sake 
of  natural  appearances  which  we  wish  to  preserve. 

It  might  be  supposed  that  when  a  branch  is  lopped  off,  its 
foliage  would  at  once  wither,  and  unduly  expose  the  nest  or 
detract  from  the  artistic  value  of  a  picture.  The  fact  is,  how- 
ever, that  there  is  commonly  enough  sap  in  a  hard  wood  bough 
of  moderate  size  to  keep  the  leaves  fresh  for  several  days,  and 
towards  the  close  of  life  at  the  nest  the  young  need  no  protection 
from  this  source.  As  to  this  point,  however,  the  illustrations 
in  this  book  will  speak  for  themselves.  When  the  nesting 
branch  is  vertical  and  not  too  large,  it  can  usually  be  kept  fresh 
for  a  sufficient  time  by  setting  it  in  a  can  of  water,  which  should 
be  sunk  in  the  ground. 

Evergreens  like  the  pine  and  spruce  hold  their  leaves  bright 
for  a  long  time  after  cutting,  and  in  this  respect  the  various 
deciduous  trees  and  shrubs  differ  greatly,  those  with  a  hard, 
close  grain  keeping  fresh  the  longer. 

As  to  any  injury  to  trees  which  the  method  may  be  supposed 
to  entail,  it  is  not  worth  considering,  since  no  valuable  tree 
should  be  mutilated  without  first  obtaining  the  permission  of 
the  owner,  for  however  trifling  the  damage  may  appear,  his 
point  of  view  is  likely  to  be  different  from  your  own.  The 
cutting  of  an  occasional  twig  or  branch,  even  if  it  does  not  trim 
the  tree,  is  not  regarded  as  an  important  event  in  this  country 
at  present.  If  every  farmer  who  owns  orchards  and  woodlands 
did  his  duty,  he  would  cut  out  more  useless  wood  in  a  year  than 
a  student  of  birds  would  need  to  do  in  a  decade.  It  should  be 
unnecessary  to  add  that  no  one  should  set  up  a  nest  in  a  field, 
and  leave  the  trouble  of  removing  it  to  the  owner  of  the  land. 

When  the  nest  is  completely  exposed  and  the  weather  is 
very  hot,  the  young  may  be  tempted  to  forsake  it  a  day  or  two 
earlier  than  they  would  naturally  do,  but  this  does  not  usually 
happen  and  is  not  necessarily  serious.  Some  Kingbirds,  already 
referred  to,  spent  eighteen  days  in  the  nest,  and  were  a  week 
old  when  it  was  moved.  This  was  probably  longer  than  com- 
mon, and  certainly  longer  than  necessary. 

The  tent  not  only  conceals  the  observer  but  protects  his 


Method  of  Bird  Study  and  Photography     33 

camera,  an  important  consideration,  since  the  prolonged  action 
of  the  sun  is  liable  to  spring  a  leak  in  the  bellows.  As  to  the 
portability  and  general  convenience  of  the  tent  I  shall  speak 
elsewhere. 

With  notebook  in  hand  you  can  sit  in  your  tent,  and  see  and 
record  everything  which  transpires  at  the  nest,  the  mode  of 
approach,  the  kind  of  food  brought,  the  varied 
activities  of  the  old  and  young,  the  visits  of  intruders,  Adva **^* 
and  their  combats  with  the  owners  of  the  nest,  the  Method 
capture  of  prey  which  sometimes  goes  on  under  your 
eye.  No  better  position  could  be  chosen  for  hearing  the  songs, 
responsive  calls,  and  alarm  notes  of  the  birds.  You  can  thus 
gather  materials  for  an  exact  and  minute  history  of  life  at  the 
nest,  and  of  the  behavior  of  birds  during  this  important  period. 
More  than  this,  you  can  photograph  the  birds  at  will,  under  the 
most  perfect  conditions,  recording  what  no  naturalist  has  ever 
seen,  and  what  no  artist  could  ever  hope  to  portray.  The  birds 
come  and  go  close  to  your  eye,  but  unconscious  of  being  observed. 

I  have  watched  the  Night  Hawk  feed  her  chick  with  fireflies 
barely  fifteen  inches  from  my  hand,  the  Kingfisher  carrying  live 
fish  to  its  brood  whose  muffled  rattles  issued  from  their  sub- 
terranean gallery  a  few  feet  away.  When  near  enough  to  count 
her  respirations  accurately,  I  have  seen  the  Redwing  Blackbird 
leave  her  nest  on  a  hot  day,  hop  down  to  the  cool  water  of  the 
swamp,  and  after  taking  a  sip,  bathe  in  full  view,  within  reach 
of  the  hand;  then,  shaking  the  water  from  her  plumage,  she 
would  return  refreshed  to  the  nest.  I  have  seen  the  male 
Kingbird  come  to  his  nesting  bough  with  feathers  drenched  from 
his  midday  bath  in  the  river,  the  Orioles  flash  their  brilliant 
colors  all  day  long  before  the  eye,  and  Chestnut-sided  Warblers 
become  so  tame  after  several  days  that  the  female  would  allow 
you  to  approach  and  stroke  her  back  with  the  hand.  Again, 
when  camping  on  an  island  by  the  shore,  I  have  seen  the  Tern, 
on  coming  to  her  nest,  an  egg  of  which  had  exploded  during  her 
absence,  the  heat  of  the  midday  sun  being  more  than  it  could 
stand,  bend  over,  insert  her  lower  mandible  in  the  blow-hole, 
and,  gradually  lifting  the  heavy  egg  in  her  bill,  bear  it  slowly 


34 


Wild  Birds 


to  the  sea  and  drop  it  in  the  water.  Upon  her  return,  she 
gathered  up  every  fragment  which  might  defile  the  nest  and 
bore  it  away. 

When  encamped  on  a  rock-bound  shore,  above  the  surge  of 
the  waves,  I  have  watched  hour  by  hour  and  day  after  day  the 


Fig.  14.  Family  of  Great  Herring  Gulls  on  their  "preserve,"  with  one 
chick  a  day  old  and  two  eggs.  The  male  at  the  right  has  just  dropped 
from  the  perch  on  the  log  above  ;  the  brooding  mother  immediately  rose 
from  the  nest  and  is  seen  sounding  the  scream  of  defiance,  which  is  evi- 
dently not  a  danger  signal.  The  male  then  summoned  the  chick  to  the 
feeding  spot,  which  is  at  the  side  of  the  nest,  and  his  mate  retired  to  the 
perch. 

comic  and  the  tragic  scenes  in  which  the  nurseries  of  the  Great 
Herring  Gull  abound,  and  from  such  vantage  points  have  been 
able  to  follow  in  every  detail  that  remarkable  polity  which  has 
grown  out  of  the  communal  life  of  these  splendid  sea  fowl. 

It  is  difficult  to  describe  the  fascination  which  this  method 
of  study  affords  the  student  of  animal  life.  New  discoveries 
or  unexpected  sights  wait  on  the  minutes,  for  while  there  is  a 


Method  of  Bird  Study  and  Photography     35 

well-ordered  routine  in  the  actions  of  many  birds  the  most 
charming  pictures  occur  at  odd  moments,  and  there  is  an  endless 
variety  of  detail.  It  is  like  a  succession  of  scenes  in  a  drama, 
only  this  is  real  life,  not  an  imitation,  and  there  is  no  need  of 
introducing  tragedy.  From  the  tent  one  may  read  the  life  of 
the  nesting  bird  as  out  of  an  open  book. 


CHAPTER  II 

ILLUSTRATIONS  OF  THE  METHOD 

IT  is  always  interesting  to  see  how  birds  actually  behave  when 
put  to  the  test,  and  as  illustrations  of  the  method  applied  I 
have  selected  four  common  birds,  the  Cedar  Waxwing,  the 
Wren,  the  Redwing  Blackbird,  and  the  Kingbird.  The  choice 
might  have  fallen,  however,  upon  any  others  in  my  list,  for  the 
principles  are  in  every  case  the  same. 

For  the  present  we  are  chiefly  concerned  with  the  change  of 
nesting  sites  and  with  the  behavior  of  these  birds  in  the  face  of 
new  surroundings. 

On  the  third  day  of  July  a  Cedar-bird's  nest  (No.  10  of  table 
on  page  22)  was  discovered  in  an  unusually  attractive  situation. 
It  was  fastened  to  the  horizontal  branch  of  a  white 
.  .^  e  r"  pine  about  fifteen  feet  up,  in  the  line  of  an  old  stone 
wall  that  bounded  an  open  field.  In  passing  beneath 
the  tree  almost  daily  during  the  following  week,  I  was  sure  to  find 
one  of  the  old  birds,  the  female  as  I  supposed,  always  on  the  nest 
and  sitting  in  the  same  alert  attitude,  engaged  either  in  in- 
cubation or  brooding.  With  upstretched  neck  she  would  sit 
motionless  and  silent  as  a  statue,  as  if  listening  intently,  her 
dark  eye  shining  like  a  jet  black  bead  against  the  background  of 
pine  needles.  I  was  waiting  for  the  propitious  time  to  move 
this  nest  to  the  open  field.  This  time  arrived  on  July  i4th, 
when  the  heads  of  the  young  began  to  appear  over  the  rim  of 
their  nest.  The  bough  was  then  sawn  off,  carried  fifty  feet  from 
the  tree,  and  set  up  in  the  newly  mown  field,  in  an  east  to  west 
line  at  a  height  of  four  feet  from  the  ground,  and  in  such  a  way 
that  the  birds  could  be  "skyed,"  and  the  light  would  be  good 
from  nine  o'clock  in  the  morning  until  three  in  the  afternoon. 

36 


Illustrations  of  the  Method 


37 


The  tent  was  then  pitched  and  closed;  the  whole  operation 
lasted  longer  than  usual  owing  to  some  difficulty  in  getting 
stakes  of  the  right  height.  Fifteen  minutes  is  usually  long 
enough  for  this  work. 


Fig.  15.    Cedar  Waxwing  standing  at  inspection  :  a  characteristic  pose. 
Compare  Pigs,  i  and  4. 

From  peep-holes  the  old  birds  could  be  seen  in  the  nesting 
tree,  and  you  began  to  hear  their  faint  z-e-e-e-e-e-t !  in  response 
to  calls  from  the  young.  In  twenty-four  minutes  the  female 
was  on  the  bough  and  fed  her  brood  with  red  bird  cherries  by 
regurgitation.  At  this  point  I  was  obliged  to  leave  the  tent  and 
ask  some  curious  boys  to  keep  away,  but  the  mother  bird  was 
back  in  a  moment.  In  a  short  time  the  old  birds  began  to  alight 
on  the  peak  of  the  tent,  which  was  an  observatory  for  them  as 


38  Wild  Birds 

well  as  for  the  person  inside.  Taking  a  look  about,  they  would 
drop  down  to  the  nest  only  a  step  away.  This  was  done  more 
than  ten  times  in  the  course  of  the  day.  Observations  began 
at  8.40  in  the  morning  and  closed  at  4.40  P.  M.,  so  that,  with  an 
intermission  at  noon,  they  lasted  nearly  seven  hours  and  twenty 
minutes.  During  this  interval  the  young  were  fed  with  wild 
red  cherries,  blueberries,  and  insects,— mainly  grasshoppers,  and 
nearly  always  by  regurgitation.  The  nest  and  young  were 
regularly  cleaned,  and  the  new  conditions  seemed  to  have  been 
completely  adopted.  The  young,  whose  wing-quills  now  showed 
half  an  inch  of  the  feather  shaft,  were  entirely  fearless. 

On  July  1 6th,  the  second  day  of  observation  and  the  third 
after  the  removal  of  the  nesting  bough,  the  old  birds  began  the 
work  of  feeding  in  exactly  twelve  minutes  after  the  tent  was  in 
place.  I  will  add  here  that  I  have  usually  removed  the  tent  at 
the  end  of  the  day's  work,  although  in  some  cases  it  has  been 
found  advantageous  to  leave  it  overnight.  In  a  little  more  than 
three  hours  the  old  birds  came  to  the  nest  eighteen  times,  bring- 
ing abundant  stores  of  fruit  and  insects. 

On  July  1 7th,  the  third  day  at  this  nest,  feeding  began  in 
three  minutes  after  closure  of  the  tent.  It  was  the  hottest  day 
of  the  summer,  but  life  at  the  nest  went  on  without  accident  or 
interruption.  The  young  now  sat  or  stood  with  heads  upturned 
in  the  characteristic  attitude  shown  in  one  of  the  illustrations. 
They  flew  on  the  morning  of  the  ipth  of  July,  when  thirteen 
days  old,  seeking  the  cover  of  a  thicket  of  birches  close  by,  where 
they  were  cared  for  by  their  parents  until  ready  to  leave  the 
neighborhood.  They  were  scattered  over  an  area  of  several 
square  rods,  and  kept  calling  in  their  monotonous  way,  z-e~e-e-e-t! 
z-e-e-e-e-t!  One  of  their  number,  shown  in  a  photograph  (Fig. 
59),  was  not  touched  or  posed,  but  occupied  a  natural  perch 
chosen  by  himself  in  his  flight  from  tree  to  tree. 

About  the  middle  of  July  I  noticed  the  neatly  drilled  circular 

The  House  openin&  of  a  Chickadee's  nest  on  the  underside  of  a 

Wren      '     small  dead  apple  branch,  about  twelve  feet  from  the 

ground.     It  was  so  admirably  adapted  for  study  that 

I  remember  the  feeling  of  regret  at  being  so  late  in  the  field. 


Illustrations  of  the  Method  39 

I  determined,  however,  to  save  the  nest;  but,  upon  coming 
to  take  it  down,  on  the  24th  of  July,  discovered  that  it  was 
occupied,  after  all,  and  by  a  family  of  House  Wrens.  After  the 
Chickadees  had  moved  out,  the  Wrens  had  evidently  moved  in. 
The  Wren  is  a  close  sitter,  and  when  incubation  is  well  ad- 
vanced it  is  difficult  to  drive  the  female  from  her  eggs.  In  the 
present  case  nothing  short  of  a  violent  shaking  of  the  whole  tree 
would  suffice.  Finally  a  sleek  little  bird  would  appear  at  the 
window,  showing  a  sharp  bill  and  clean-cut  profile,  and  in  a 
moment  go  off  scolding,  or  giving  its  harsh  rattle,  which  is  really 
a  signal  of  alarm — ek-ek-ek-ek-ek-ek-ek-ek !  Then,  with  tail 
cocked  and  with  rapid,  jerky  movements,  it  would  hop  along 
the  fence  or  over  the  branches  of  a  tree,  turning  on  its  shrill 
rattle  every  few  seconds,  until  confidence  was  restored.  The 
Wren's  tail,  though  a  very  sensitive  register  of  emotion,  is  not 
invariably  cocked,  as  might  be  inferred  from  the  picture-books. 

When  it  seemed  likely  that  the  little  Wrens  were  a  week  old, 
I  cut  off  the  dead  branch  below  the  opening,  carefully  lowered 
it  to  the  ground,  and  mounted  it  on  a  pivot  in  the  field.  The 
stump  was  then  surrounded  by  a  protective  wire  screen  of 
ample  height  (see  page  63),  and  the  tent  was  set  up  on  the 
morning  of  the  following  day,  August  24th,  at  twenty  minutes 
after  nine  o'clock.  In  order  to  secure  a  clear  background,  a 
white  photographic  screen  (see  p.  62)  was  later  placed  behind 
the  stump,  and  our  outdoor  observatory  was  complete  (Fig.  9). 
By  its  means  the  home  life  of  old  and  young  could  be  studied 
and  registered  with  a  precision  hitherto  unknown.  Though  the 
birds  would  now  come  and  go  within  reach  of  the  hand,  they 
were  quite  unaware  of  being  observed. 

I  watched  this  Wren  family  during  parts  of  five  days,  and 
altogether  for  eleven  hours  and  five  minutes.  On  the  fourth 
day  the  stump  was  sawn  open,  so  as  to  expose  the  young,  which 
were  then  well  feathered  and  able  to  crawl  to  the  opening. 
The  illustrations  of  the  scenes  at  this  nest  were  selected  from 
a  series  of  nearly  one  hundred  photographs,  which  represent  a 
complete  pictorial  analysis  of  the  behavior  of  this  bird. 

In  just  a  minute  after  entering  the  tent  on  the  first  day, 


Wild  Birds 


Figs.  16-19.  House  Wrens  climbing  to 
nest-hole  with  food.  For  description  see 
List  of  Illustrations. 


Mother  Wren  was  on  the  stump 
and  sounding  her  alarm,  ek-ek- 
ek-ek-ek-ek-ek-ek-ek!  In  giving 
this  harsh  rattle  the  bill  does 
not  close,  but  the  lower  mandi- 
ble moves  rapidly  and  the 
whole  body  quivers,  as  the  air 
is  expelled  in  little  puffs  from 
the  throat.  A  few  minutes 
later  she  was  crawling  up  the 
bark  like  a  mouse,  with  a  field- 
spider  pinched  between  the 
sharp  points  of  her  bill.  Her 
next  victim  was  a  black  bee- 
tle, but,  frightened  at  some  ob- 
ject or  sound,  she  brought  it  to 
the  stump  many  times,  reeling 
off  her  harsh  rattle,  or  giving 
her  incisive  kek!  kek!  before 
venturing  inside. 

The  work  of  feeding  was 
borne  wholly  by  the  female, 
both  at  this  and  at  another 
nest  studied  earlier  in  the  sea- 
son. She  would  come  and  go 
quietly,  unless  disturbed,  when 
her  rattle  would  sound  until 
every  suspicion  was  allayed. 
Sometimes  she  would  fly  first 
to  the  tent  roof,  then  to  the 
stump,  running  up  or  down  to 
the  hole.  Again  she  would 
alight  on  the  screen,  and  then 
go  to  the  stump  by  way  of  the 
wire  net,  always  pausing  at  the 
entrance  to  the  nest  before 
venturing  inside.  It  was  some 


Illustrations  of  the  Method 


time  before  a  definite  course 
of  approach  was  adopted,  and 
this  was  necessarily  modified 
whenever  the  stump  was  ro- 
tated to  improve  the  light. 
The  young  chirped  briskly  as 
the  mother  approached,  and, 
like  the  young  of  other  birds, 
were  keenly  alive  to  every 
sound.  After  inspecting  and 
cleaning  the  nest,  she  would 
return  to  the  entrance,  often 
with  the  excreta  in  her  bill, 
survey  the  field  for  a  moment, 
and  be  off. 

This  bird  had  the  peculiar 
habit  of  tearing  the  legs  and 
wings  from  large  grasshoppers 
and  moths  before  bringing  them 
to  the  nest.  The  photographs 
demonstrate  this  clearly.  The 
effect  of  such  rough  treatment 
was  certainly  to  prevent  the 
escape  of  the  prey.  I  was  sur- 
prised to  find  that  small  spiders 
were  also  subjected  to  a  similar 
ordeal,  only  their  plump,  spheri- 
cal abdomens,  which  I  at  first 
mistook  for  egg-cocoons,  being 
served  to  the  young  (Fig.  16). 

I  once  drove  this  bird  away 
with  my  hand  four  times  in 
rapid  succession,  until  the  in- 
sect which  was  finally  delivered 
could  be  observed  and  a  photo- 
graph obtained.  This  was  a 
good  illustration  of  the  force 


Figs.  20-23.     House  Wrens,  entering, 
leaving,  and  cleaning  nest. 


Wild  Birds 


Figs.  44-27.  Attitudes  of  the  House 
Wren  exhibited  on  stage  over  nest  ;  the 
trunk  is  sawn  open. 


of  habit,  and  a  good  index  of 
the  degree  of  familiarity  already 
attained. 

On  the  second  day  a  high 
wind  shook  the  tent,  and  the 
screen  napped  like  the  sail  of  a 
vessel  at  sea,  but  life  at  the 
nest  went  forward  without  a 
break.  Even  when  the  wind 
tore  up  the  screen  and  carried 
it  with  a  crash  against  a  neigh- 
boring fence,  the  bird  hardly 
noticed  it,  and  two  minutes 
later  came  bringing  to  its  young 
a  large  moth,  minus  wings. 

In  order  to  expose  the  nest 
itself,  the  stump  was  sawn  open 
on  the  fourth  day,  but  the  rou- 
tine of  nest  life  was  interrupted 
for  only  seven  minutes.  A  con- 
venient platform,  or  stage,  was 
thus  made  just  above  the  nest, 
and  upon  this  many  lively 
scenes  were  enacted  in  the 
course  of  the  day.  A  series 
of  pictures  (Figs.  1 6-30)  shows 
many  attitudes  of  this  little 
Wren,  as  she  strode  up  or  down 
to  the  nest-opening,  as  well  as 
the  variety  of  insects  carried, 
and  the  treatment  which  many 
of  them  had  received. 

I  once  photographed  this  bird 
as  she  stood  on  the  stage  over 
the  nest  with  a  large  grass- 
hopper in  her  mouth,  and  her 
behavior  suggested  some  con- 


Illustrations  of  the  Method 


43 


nection  between  bulb  and  bill, 
for  at  the  click  of  the  shutter 
she  promptly  swallowed  the  in- 
sect and  was  off. 

The  Wrens  have  a  peculiar 
way  of  disposing  of  the  excreta. 
The  sac  is  taken  direct  from 
the  body  of  the  young  and  car- 
ried to  a  tree,  where  it  is  de- 
posited or  impaled  on  the  bark 
of  a  limb.  The  sac  is  rarely,  if 
ever,  eaten,  and  never  allowed 
to  fall  to  the  ground. 

During  the  whole  period  of 
observation,  which  lasted 
eleven  hours  and  five  minutes, 
the  young  were  fed  one  hun- 
dred and  one  times,  at  an  av- 
erage rate  of  once  in  six  and  a 
half  minutes  (on  the  first  day 
once  in  two  and  a  half  min- 
utes) ,  and  the  nest  was  inspected 
and  cleaned  twenty-eight  times. 
The  bill  of  fare,  as  far  as  re- 
corded, consisted  of  nine  differ- 
ent articles,  served  in  respect 
to  abundance  in  the  order 
named  as  follows:  grasshop- 
pers, thirty-three  times ;  spiders, 
twenty-five;  moths,  fourteen; 
black  crickets,  six ;  green  larvae, 
two ;  brown  larvae,  two ;  besides 
field  cricket,  green  katydid,  and 
black  beetle,  each  served  once. 

During  the  last  day  of  study 
at  this  nest  the  young  crawled 
to  the  opening  and  took  their 


••I 


Figs.  28-30.  Descending  to  nest. 
Fig.  31.  Young  Wren  leaving  nest. 


44 


Wild  Birds 


first  flight,  landing  in  the  grass  not  many  feet  away.     They  would 
run  like  mice,  and  their  brown  protective  coloring,  exactly  like 


Fig.  32.    Tent  over  raft  in  water  of  swamp  beside  Redwing  Blackbird's 
nest.     See  Figs.  33  and  34,  No.  a  of  table. 

that  of  the  old  birds,  made  it  no  easy  matter  to  recover  them 
when  once  at  liberty. 

On  the  fifth  day  of  July  a  nest  of  three  young  Blackbirds 
(No.  2  of  the  table),  aged  five  days,  was  found  on  the  edge  of 
what  was  once  an  alder  swamp,  close  to  the  town  and  the  "  Cove  " 
made  by  the  Winnipiseogee  River  in  Northfield.  It  was  fixed 


Illustrations  of  the  Method 


45 


to  several  slender  stems  of  Spiraea,  amid  a  dense  tangle  of  Ceph- 

alanthus,  wild  roses,  and  purple  milkweeds.     The  situation  was 

so  attractive  and  offered  such  fine  opportunities  for 

studying  these  birds  that,  notwithstanding  the  water 

and  mud,   I   determined    to    make    careful    prepar-     B- 

ations.       A    space    four    feet    square    was    at    once 

cleared  of  bushes  at  one  side  of  the  nest.     In  order  to  skv  the 


The  Red" 


Fig-  33-     Male  Redwing  Blackbird  feeding  young. 

birds,  the  nesting  twigs  were  slightly  raised,  but  none  of  these 
were  severed  or  otherwise  displaced. 

On  the  ninth  of  July  I  built  a  raft  or  platform  on  the  cleared 
area,  and  painted  it  green,  which  was  soon  found  to  be  an  un- 
necessary precaution.  When  weighted  with  the  observer  and 


46 


Wild  Birds 


his  apparatus,  the  flooring  was  barely  clear  of  the  water.  On 
the  following  day,  the  tent  was  pitched  over  this  stranded  raft 
and  guyed  to  the  bushes,  the  tent  poles  having  been  previously 
lengthened  to  suit  the  depth  of  mud  and  water.  Everything 
was  ready  for  observations  at  half-past  nine  o'clock.  At  first 
the  birds  fluttered  around  the  nest  chucking  and  whistling  in- 


Fig.  34.     Female  Redwing  Blackbird  with  feathers  erect,  keep- 
ing cool  while  shielding  young  from  heat. 


cessantly,  but  in  less  than  an  hour  the  warble  of  the  male  was 
heard,  which  is  a  sure  sign  of  growing  confidence.  Then  both 
birds  went  off  for  food,  returned,  reconnoitred  the  tent  and  nest, 
and  after  precisely  one  hour  and  twenty-three  minutes  from 
the  beginning  of  observations  the  female  came  and  fed  her 


Illustrations  of  the  Method  47 

clamoring  young.  Again  she  was  off  and  back  three  times  in 
rapid  succession.  Three  minutes  later  she  was  brooding,  and 
remained  on  the  nest  thirteen  minutes.  Leaving  it  again,  she 
examined  the  tent  anew,  then  brooded  ten  minutes  more.  A 
little  later  the  young  were  fed  and  the  nest  cleaned  with  great 
care. 

The  male  was  more  cautious  and  did  not  actually  feed  his 
young  until  twenty-seven  minutes  after  eleven.  His  fears  were 
then  dispelled  and  life  at  the  nest  went  on  without  interruption 
At  about  noon  the  old  birds  were  using  the  tent  as  a  half-way 
house,  alighting  on  its  peak  and  guys,  and  foraging  about  it  for 
food.  In  the  space  of  four  hours  on  the  first  day,  during  which 
the  birds  were  watched  at  a  distance  of  about  twenty-seven 
inches,  fifty -four  visits  were  made  and  the  young  were  fed  forty 
times.  The  female  brooded  her  young  over  an  hour,  fed  them 
twenty-nine  times,  and  cleaned  the  nest  thirteen  times.  The 
male  made  eleven  visits,  attending  to  sanitary  matters  but 
twice.  This  example  illustrates  as  well  as  any  which  could  be 
given  the  advantage  which  attends  the  use  of  the  observation 
tent. 

On  the  following  day,  July  nth,  the  female  was  at  the  nest 
and  brooding  her  young  in  five  minutes  after  the  tent  was  in 
position.  Presently  she  left  to  hunt  for  insects,  alighted  on  the 
tent,  and  five  minutes  later  was  feeding  her  young  and  cleaning 
the  nest.  In  the  course  of  nearly  three  and  one  half  hours, 
fifty-five  visits  were  made  and  the  young  were  fed  collectively 
or  singly  forty-three  times.  At  about  half-past  eleven  o'clock 
one  of  the  fledglings  left  the  nest  and  was  fed  by  the  old  birds 
in  the  surrounding  bushes  of  the  swamp.  The  female  brought 
food  thirty-two  times,  cleaned  the  nest  eight  times,  and  brooded 
eighteen  times  for  intervals  varying  from  thirty  seconds  to 
eighteen  minutes.  This  bird  cut  a  queer  figure  while  standing 
or  sitting  in  the  sun,  with  wings  spread  and  bristling  like  a 
turkey-cock  with  every  feather  erect,  and  with  mouth  agape, 
trying  to  keep  cool  while  shielding  her  family  from  the  heat. 
Her  breathings  were  at  the  rate  of  150  to  160  times  a  minute. 
The  male  bird  served  food  eleven  times  and  attended  to  sanitary 


48 


Wild  Birds 


matters  once.     In  the  course  of  forty-two  minutes  the  first 
young  bird  to  leave  the  nest  was  fed  eight  times,  seven  times  by 


Fig-  35.     Baltimore  Oriole  inspecting  young  after  having  fed  them. 

the  mother  and  once  by  the  father.  Three  days  later  the 
swamp  was  visited  at  just  after  sundown,  when  the  young 
birds  suddenly  arose  from  the  nest  and  flew  off  with  ease  and 
precision. 

Kingbirds  pose  so  well,  especially  about  their  nests,  that  I 


Illustrations  of  the  Method  49 

was  anxious  to  see  how  they  would  stand  the  test  of  a  sudden 
change  in  their  surroundings.  Accordingly  I  watched 

with  unusual  care  two  nests  which  were  found  near 

Kingbird 
my  house.     On  the  thirteenth  day  of  June  one  had 

two  and  the  other  four  eggs  all  freshly  laid,  and  these  appeared 
to  be  the  full  complement.  Young  were  hatched  in  each  nest 
on  or  near  the  twenty-fifth  of  the  month. 

The  first  nest  was  built  at  the  top  of  a  hill,  about  a  rod  from 
an  Oriole's  nest  (Figs.  35,  96),  on  the  horizontal  limb  of  a  small 
apple  tree  twelve  feet  from  the  ground,  and  was  a  conspicuous 
object  to  all  who  passed  that  way.  The  nesting  bough  was 
removed  and  mounted  in  a  good  position  on  the  morning  of 
July  2d,  and  the  tent  was  closed  at  half-past  eight  o'clock.  At 
this  time  the  two  young  were  six  days  old  and  covered  with 
light  gray  down.  While  the  operation  was  in  progress  the  old 
birds  hovered  over  the  nest,  and  with  their  usual  boldness 
swooped  down  close  to  my  head,  snapping  their  bills  and  utter- 
ing their  piercing  alarms. 

After  the  tent  was  closed,  much  to  my  surprise  all  became 
quiet,  and  I  could  see  both  birds — the  female  with  insect  in  bill 
— exploring  the  nesting  tree  twenty  feet  away.  She  would  fly 
to  that  point  in  space  which  the  nest  formerly  occupied,  and 
hover  over  it  repeatedly,  a  characteristic  action  of  many  if  not 
all  birds  under  such  circumstances,  and  is  a  good  illustration  of 
the  force  of  habit.  Ten  minutes  later  the  female  was  again  at 
the  nesting  tree  with  insects.  For  an  hour  afterwards  all  was 
quiet.  The  old  birds  were  sitting  by  in  silence,  probably  not 
far  away.  At  ten  minutes  before  eleven  o'clock  one  of  the  pair, 
probably  trie ''female,  came  with  a  swoop  to  the  nesting  branch, 
and  I  believe  fed  her  young.  In  this  case  the  observer  had  to 
wait  two  hours  and  twenty  minutes  before  having  the  birds 
close  to  his  eye,  but  he  was  well  repaid  for  the  delay  as  the 
sequel  will  show.  In  one  minute  the  mother  had  returned  and 
now  both  began  to  make  up  for  lost  time.  In  five  hours  and  six 
minutes  (from  10.50  A.M.  to  4.36  P.M.,  allowing  for  an  inter- 
mission of  forty  minutes  when  the  observer  was  away),  the  old 
birds  made  seventy-five  visits  to  the  nest.  Not  only  had  they 


50  Wild  Birds 

become  accustomed  to  the  tent,  but  soon  paid  little  heed  to 
anything  about  it,  and  one  could  photograph  them  at  will, 
focusing  directly  upon  the  brooding  or  standing  bird.  After  I 
had  entered  the  tent,  they  would  be  at  the  nest  in  five  minutes 


Fig.  36.    Kingbirds  rending  an  unruly  dragon-fly.    The  female,  who  stands  in 
front,  was  brooding  when  the  prey  was  brought  by  the  male. 

or  even  less  time,  and  the  young  were  often  fed  at  half-minute 
intervals.  Occasionally  both  birds  were  at  the  nest  together, 
but  this  seldom  happened  unless  the  female  was  brooding. 

On  the  second  day  the  male  came  to  the  nesting  branch  in 
twelve  minutes  after  the  tent  was  in  position,  and  the  panoramic 
scenes  of  life  at  this  nest  went  on  without  disturbance  for  the 
rest  of  that  day.  The  birds  were  before  your  eye,  literally  at 


Illustrations  of  the  Method  5 1 

hand,  and  the  observer  had  only  to  watch  and  record  the  rapidly 
shifting  scenes  with  pencil  and  camera. 

On  the  third  day,  July  4th,  the  female  was  on  the  bough  in 
six  minutes,  and  in  six  and  a  half  minutes  from  the  beginning  of 
operations  fed  her  brood. 


Fig.  37.     Kingbird  family.     The  male — to  the  right — has  captured  a  dragon-fly, 
whose  stick  of  a  body  is  seen  projecting  from  the  mouth  of  a  young  bird. 

The  fourth  day  of  study  at  this  nest,  or  the  sixth  from  the 
time  of  displacement,  was  the  most  interesting  of  all.  There 
were  now  two  foster  children  in  addition  to  the  two  born  in  the 
house,  for  I  had  transferred  two  birds  from  a  former  nest  (No. 
29  of  table).  No  protest  was  made  at  this  intrusion,  but  the 
strangers  were  adopted  almost  immediately  and  fed  and  guarded 
with  all  the  care  given  to  their  own  offspring. 


5  2  Wild  Birds 

In  the  space  of  four  hours  (8.54  A.M.  to  12.50  P.M.)  the  parents 
made  one  hundred  and  eight  visits  to  the  nest  and  fed  their 
brood  ninety-one  times.  In  this  task  the  female  bore  the  larger 
share,  bringing  food  more  than  fifty  times,  although  the  male 
made  a  good  showing,  having  a  record  of  thirty-seven  visits  to 
his  credit.  During  this  long  interval  the  young  were  thus  fed 
on  the  average  of  once  in  two  and  one  half  minutes.  At  each 
feeding  usually  one  and  but  rarely  two  birds  were  served.  Dur- 
ing the  first  hour  the  young  were  fed  on  an  average  of  once  in 
one  and  a  half  minutes.  The  observer  was  kept  on  the  alert 
in  recording  what  took  place,  and  the  scenes  would  often  shift 
so  quickly  that  it  was  difficult  to  decide  which  bird  came  to  the 
nest.  The  mother  brooded  eighteen  times,  and  altogether  for 
the  space  of  one  hour  and  twenty  minutes.  The  nest  was 
cleaned  seven  times,  and  the  nest  and  young  were  constantly 
inspected  and  picked  all  over  by  both  birds,  although  the  female 
was  the  more  scrupulous  in  her  attentions. 

Whenever  the  male  brought  a  large  dragon-fly  to  the  young, 
an  exciting  scene  was  sure  to  follow.  If  the  female  happened 
to  be  brooding  at  the  time,  she  would  seize  the  struggling  insect 
and  try  to  start  it  down  one  of  the  hungry  throats.  If  she 
failed  in  this,  the  male  would  snatch  it  from  her  to  try  his  skill, 
and  usually  with  as  little  success.  In  this  way  the  prey  would 
be  passed  back  and  forth,  until  it  was  crushed  between  the  bills 
of  the  two  birds,  or  torn  limb  from  limb.  Some  of  these  un- 
equal contests  between  birds  and  insects  are  illustrated  by  the 
photographs. 

When  the  male  brought  a  moth  miller  and  accidentally 
dropped  it  close  to  the  tent,  he  went  after  it  like  a  flash,  and  to 
place  its  security  beyond  doubt  swallowed  it  himself.  Again, 
one  of  the  birds  while  perched  near  by  was  seen  to  disgorge  the 
indigestible  parts  of  its  insect  food,  a  common  practice  with 
flycatchers,  both  old  and  young. 

I  have  added  the  foregoing  details  in  order  to  show  with  what 
harmony  life  at  the  new  nesting  site  proceeds  when  once  the 
severed  threads  have  been  united.  A  knowledge  of  former 
conditions  seemed  to  have  been  completely  effaced.  The  nest- 


Illustrations  of  the  Method 


53 


ing  bough  was  defended  with  the  same  bold  spirit  for  which 
this  bird  is  celebrated.  The  young  Were  brooded  night  and 
day,  while  birds  of  other  species  were  constantly  assailed  and 
driven  from  the  premises. 

At  noon  on  the  ninth  day  of  July  one  Kingbird,  then  full- 


Fig.  38.  Warbling  Vireo  bringing  insect  to  young.  The  rod-shaped 
body  between  the  head  of  the  bird  and  the  branch  is  not  a  part  of  the 
tree,  but  the  abdomen  of  a  dragon-fly,  which  was  dragged  from  its 
pupa-case,  before  its  wings  had  unfolded. 

fledged,  was  standing  on  the  branch  beside  the  nest.  When 
touched  he  was  off  like  a  shot,  and  at  this  signal  the  others 
tried  their  wings  for  the  first  time  and  landed  in  the  grass. 
After  being  replaced  many  times,  two  consented  to  remain,  and 
spent  that  night  in  the  old  home,  but  forsook  it  the  next  morning 
when  two  weeks  old.  The  first  nest,  which  had  been  displaced 
in  a  similar  way  and  which  as  we  have  seen  eventually  contained 
two  birds,  was  occupied  eighteen  days.  The  last  to  leave  flew 
easily  two  hundred  feet  down  the  hillside  on  the  thirteenth  of 
July.  After  taking  this  one  home  to  secure  a  photograph,  I 
carried  him  to  the  hilltop  and  tossed  him  in  the  air.  In  his 
second  flight,  which  was  long  and  good,  he  made  a  distant  apple 


54 


Wild  Birds 


tree  Both  old  and  young  birds  remained  in  the  neighborhood 
for  several  weeks,  and  were  still  there  when  I  went  away  in 
early  August. 

As  an  appendix  to  this  chapter,  it  might  be  interesting  to 
add  a  few  notes  on  other  birds.  On  the  twenty-third  day  of 
July  a  nest  of  Warbling  Vireos  was  moved  sixty  feet  to  an 

adjoining  field, 
and  to  a  point 
close  to  my 
house.  In  five 
minutes  both 
birds  were  at 
the  nest  with 
food,  the  little 
Vireos  giving 
their  peculiar 
whining  call  in 
chorus,  and  the 
old  ones  their 
equally  harsh 
and  characteris- 
tic r  e  f  r  a  i  n — 
kech-ech-ech-ech! 
kech-ech-ech-ech! 
Observations 
were  begun  at  once;  the  birds  were  remarkably  active,  and  the 
amount  of  food  consumed  by  the  young  was  astonishingly  great. 
During  the  first  hour  the  nestlings  were  fed  forty-five  times  and 
during  the  second  thirty-two  times,  the  feedings  sometimes  oc- 
curring, for  a  period  of  a  quarter  of  an  hour,  at  one-minute  in- 
tervals. A  Bluebird  even  came  to  the  bough,  took  a  perch  close 
to  the  nest,  and  tried  to  hold  its  ground,  but  it  was  finally  driven 
off  by  the  male  Vireo,  who  charged  at  it  fiercely,  with  erect 
feathers  and  snapping  bill. 

At  No  Man's  Land  Island,  Maine,  I  placed  my  tent  beside  a 
rock-nest  of  the  Great  Herring  Gull,  which  contained  two  chicks 
and  one  pipped  egg,  amid  the  loud  uproar  of  a  panic-stricken 


Fig.  39.    Young  Kingbird  eighteen  days  old.     "The  last 
to  leave  flew  easily  two  hundred  feet  down  the  hillside." 


Illustrations  of  the  Method  55 

community.  Forty  minutes  later,  when  the  storm  of  this  ex- 
citement had  blown  over,  one  of  the  Gulls  came  to  its  nest, 
and  the  strong  smell  of  herring  called  attention  to  several 
families  of  chicks  which  were  being  fed  close  to  my  tent.  Never- 
theless, for  two  and  a  half  hours  the  old  Gulls  stormed  about 
their  nest.  With  a  loud  explosive  squeal  one  would  suddenly 
descend  like  a  bolt,  striking  the  tent  with  both  feet  and  with 
great  force.  Finally  the  male,  closely  followed  by  his  mate, 
walked  up  boldly  to  the  nest,  and  with  piercing  squeals  called 
out  his  chicks  and  fed  them  on  regurgitated  fish.  The  nest 
was  then  inspected  and  the  excreta  carefully  removed.  Even 
then  their  fear  had  not  wholly  abated,  for  their  mandibles  kept 
wagging,  as  with  mechanical  repetition  they  uttered  their  less 
incisive  alarm — wak-wak-wak!  wak-wak!  wak-wak!  This  grad- 
ually ceased,  but,  like  the  pendulum  of  a  clock  running  down, 
the  mandibles  continued  to  work  without  emitting  any  sound. 

I  have  camped  beside  the  nests  and  preserves  of  five  other 
families  of  Gulls  with  both  eggs  and  chicks,  but  on  the  first  day 
have  usually  found  the  old  birds  especially  wary.  On  the 
second  or  third  day,  however,  they  would  usually  come  to  the 
perch  or  to  the  nest  in  from  one  to  ten  minutes.  In  order  to 
save  time  in  such  cases,  it  is  best  to  place  the  tent  in  position 
the  day  before  observations  begin. 


CHAPTER  III 

TENT  AND  CAMERA:    THE  TOOLS   OF   BIRD-PHOTOGRAPHY 

T")HOTOGRAPHY  has  become  so  essential  to  the  practice  of 
1  the  other  arts  and  sciences  that  the  student  need  not 
suffer  from  lack  of  advice,  or  of  detailed  manuals  which  treat 
every  branch  of  the  subject. 

In  the  notes  which  follow  I  shall  confine  myself  mainly  to  the 
results  of  personal  experience  in  working  with  the  tent. 

The  Observation  Tent. — To  satisfy  the  student  and  photog- 
rapher of  birds,  the  tent  must  not  only  afford  a  perfect  means 
of  concealment,  but  must  be  light,  portable,  easily  adjusted, 
and  to  the  fastidious — a  most  important  consideration — com- 
fortable for  the  worker. 

The  first  tent  constructed  which  meets  these  requirements 
fairly  well,  and  has  seen  service  for  five  seasons,  will  now  be 
described.  It  is  made  of  stout  grass -green  T  denim,  and  with 
the  frame  weighs  only  six  and  one  half  pounds.  It  can  be 
pitched  in  ten  minutes  almost  anywhere,  and  may  be  com- 
pactly rolled,  and  carried  for  miles  without  serious  inconvenience. 
It  is  6i  ft.  tall,  3  ft.  8  in.  long,  and  3  ft.  wide,  dimensions  which 
will  be  found  suitable  for  a  person  not  much  above  the  average 
height.  One  may  spend  any  number  of  hours  in  it  by  day  or 
night,  and  with  a  fair  degree  of  comfort,  excepting  in  very  hot 
or  sultry  weather,  when  exposed  to  the  sun  on  all  sides.  I 
have  suspended  operations  but  once  on  account  of  the  heat, 
but  there  have  been  occasions  when  to  have  done  so  might  have 

1  Brown  or  gray  might  answer  as  well.  The  green  color  serves  to 
render  the  tent  inconspicuous  to  both  animals  and  men. 

56 


Tent  and  Camera  57 

been  better.  More  than  once  I  have  found  it  a  welcome  shield 
from  the  rain. 

The  tent  frame  is  in  three  pieces,  two  upright  poles  or  stakes 
with  folding  cross-bars,  and  an  adjustable  ridge-pole.  The 
stakes  should  be  from  six  to  six  and  a  half  feet  long,  and  may 
be  easily  lengthened  at  any  time,  as  when  the  tent  is  to  be 
pitched  in  a  swamp  or  over  mud  and  water.  They  are  pointed 
at  the  lower  ends  which  are  set  in  the  ground,  and  capped 
above  with  an  arch  of  sheet  iron  to  receive  the  ridge-pole.  The 
latter  is  held  in  place  with  two  pins  or  wire  nails,  which  are 
pressed  through  a  hole  in  the  iron  cap,  and  through  the  end 
of  the  ridge-pole  into  the  upright  stake.  The  eaves  of  the 
tent  consist  of  a  double  fold  of  cloth  projecting  half  an  inch, 
to  each  corner  of  which  is  sewn  a  covered  brass  ring.  When 
in  position  the  tent  is  firmly  guyed  by  small  cords  fastened  to 
each  ring.  The  flaps  are  placed  at  one  of  the  corners,  and  may 
be  pinned  together  when  in  use.  The  free  lower  border  of  the 
tent  is  fixed  to  the  ground  by  wire  pins,  which  may  be  pushed 
through  the  cloth  at  convenient  places.  From  four  to  eight 
of  these  pins  are  needed,  and  each  should  be  seven  or  eight  inches 
long,  and  have  a  large  soldered  loop  at  one  end.1 

The  tent  may  be  ventilated  from  above  and  made  more  com- 
fortable on  hot  days  by  cutting  out  a  large  flap  on  each  side  of 
the  roof,  extending  this  a  foot  or  less,  and  then  guying  each 
comer  separately,  at  such  an  angle  as  to  admit  a  free  passage 

'For  the  benefit  of  the  worker  in  the  field  I  will  add  the  following 
additional  details:  Frame  of  smaller  tent;  poles,  6£  ft.  long,  i  inch  wide,  f 
inch  thick ;  cross-pieces,  joined  to  upright  pole  2 1  inches  from  top  by  a  screw 
on  which  they  have  full  play, — to  be  folded  when  not  in  use, — 3  ft.  £  inch 
long,  f  inch  wide,  and  \  inch  thick;  ridge-pole,  3  ft.  8  inches  long,  f  inch 
wide  by  f  inch  thick,  with  flat  top,  rounded  only  where  they  fit  into  the 
arched  iron  caps  of  poles. 

Larger  tent.  A  second  and  somewhat  larger  tent,  which  is  more  con- 
venient for  the  use  of  larger  cameras,  was  later  made  of  green  and  white 
poplin,  and  is  6  ft.  loj  inches  tall,  3  ft.  4  inches  wide,  and  3  ft.  8  inches 
long;  peak  21  inches  in  vertical  height  from  eaves.  Tent-poles,  6$  ft. 
tall;  cross-pieces,  3  ft.  4  inches  long;  ridge-pole,  3ft.  8  inches  long,  all 
made  of  pine  and  slightly  heavier  than  in  smaller  tent. 


Wild  Birds 


of  air  under  the  peak.     For  convenience  I  prefer  the  simpler 
form. 


Fig.  40.     The  tools  of  bird-photography :   the  tent  rolled  up  in  portable 
form  at  right. 

After  working  during  the  summer  of  1899  with  the  tent  I  saw 
for  the  first  time  the  interesting  work  of  the  brothers  Kearton,1  in 
which  a  different  kind  of  blind  is  used.  They  devised  an  imitation 

i  Wild  Life  at  Home:  How  to  Study  and  Photograph  It.  By  R.  Kearton, 
illustrated  by  C.  Kearton.  Cassell  &  Company,  1899. 


Tent  and  Camera  59 

tree-trunk,  having  a  skeleton  of  bamboo  rods  and  a  covering 
of  galvanized  wire  and  green  cloth,  large  enough  to  hold  the 
photographer  standing  erect  with  his  camera.  The  outside 
was  painted  in  imitation  of  bark  and  decorated  with  moss 
and  leaves.  This  was  used  in  cases  of  nests  placed  on  or  near 
the  ground  in  favorable  situations.  Mr.  Kearton  says  it  would 
hardly  do  to  set  this  up  beside  an  exposed  nest  like  a  lark's  "in 
the  middle  of  a  bare  ten-acre  field,"  and  to  suit  such  a  case  they 
constructed  an  artificial  rubbish  heap,  from  which  photographs 
were  successfully  made. 

Such  devices  are  of  course  unnecessary  when  the  nesting 
site  is  brought  under  control,  since  in  this  case  the  birds  must 
become  accustomed  to  a  changed  environment,  and  the  addition 
of  the  tent  is  a  factor  of  no  great  importance.  Then  again,  the 
great  heat  of  summer  would  prohibit  their  use  in  most  parts  of 
this  country.  No  decoration  of  the  tent  is  commonly  needed, 
and  its  color  is  a  matter  of  minor  concern.  Aside  from  the 
question  of  comfort,  however,  the  advantages  of  the  tent  lie 
in  its  convenience  and  portability.  It  is  a  simple  means  of  at- 
taining what  is  chiefly  sought,  perfect  concealment.  The  reason 
it  had  not  been  adopted  before  possibly  arose  from  the  fact  that 
the  readiness  with  which  many  birds  become  accustomed  to 
strange  objects,  or  form  new  habits,  had  not  hitherto  been 
appreciated.  What  wild  animals  chiefly  fear  are  strange  sounds 
and  strange  objects  in  motion.  All  things  at  rest,  whatever 
their  form  or  color,  are  soon  disregarded  by  birds,  of  which 
fact  the  reader  will  find  abundant  testimony  in  the  course  of 
these  pages.  On  the  other  hand,  it  is  well  to  remember  that 
individual  and  specific  differences  are  very  great,  and  one  should 
not  be  surprised  if  some  cases  are  found  in  which  the  tent  or  any 
similar  blind  will  not  work  with  success. 

The  Tent  in  Use. — Some  difficulty  may  be  experienced  in 
pitching  the  tent  in  exactly  the  right  position  with  reference  to 
the  nest,  without  the  necessity  of  further  change.  The  factors 
to  be  borne  in  mind  are  the  height  of  the  sun,  the  focal  length 
of  the  lens,  and  the  position  of  the  window  to  be  made  in  the 
tent-front  directly  opposite  the  nest.  The  front  of  the  tent 


6o  Wild  Birds 

should  be  parallel  with  the  nesting  bough  (when  there  is  one), 
and  the  long  axis  of  the  latter  should  be  parallel  with  the  sun's 
course.  The  tent  is  so  placed  that  the  nest  is  in  direct  line,  not 
with  the  middle  of  the  tent,  but  with  the  window  to  one  side. 
When  the  observer  stands  within,  facing  the  nest,  the  window 
lies  to  his  left,  at  one  side  of  the  vertical  pole,  and  either  just 
over  the  cross-piece  or  somewhere  below  it,  depending  on  the 
height  of  the  nest  from  the  ground.  The  tent  will  not  over- 
shadow the  nesting  bough  when  once  set  in  proper  position. 

If  the  focal  length  of  the  lens  be  6£  inches,  and  the  nest  that 
of  a  Cedar  Waxwing,  which  is  mounted  at  the  height  of  four 
feet,  and  the  tent  be  so  placed  that  the  front  of  the  lens  is 
twenty-eight  inches  from  the  rim  of  the  nest,  we  shall  get  a 
picture  with  adequate  setting  on  a  4  x  5  plate,  like  many  shown 
in  the  engravings.  With  lenses  of  longer  focus,  which  it  is 
advisable  to  use  if  possible,  it  is  not  necessary  to  approach  so 
near. 

When  the  position  has  been  determined,  the  tent-poles  are 
set  firmly  into  the  ground,  the  ridge-pole  adjusted  and  the  tent- 
cloth  thrown  over  it.  It  saves  time  to  lay  one  end  of  the  peak 
in  position  and  draw  the  other  over  to  its  proper  place.  The 
cross-pieces  are  then  lowered  from  the  inside  and  the  guys 
loosely  set.  A  flap  about  six  inches  square  is  then  cut  with 
scissors  in  the  front  of  the  tent,  to  the  left  of  the  pole  opposite 
the  nest,  which  can  be  viewed  'through  the  opening.  Should 
the  position  subsequently  prove  to  be  wrong,  the  poles  may  be 
raised  both  together  and  reset.  When  everything  is  right  the 
guys  are  tightened,  and  the  free  edges  fixed  to  the  ground  with 
wire  pins,  which  will  hold  the  walls  taut  and  prevent  excessive 
flapping  when  there  is  wind.  It  is  often  convenient  to  have 
the  flap  at  the  front  on  the  operator's  left  so  that  one  leg  of  the 
tripod  may  project  through  it. 

The  proper  adjustment  of  the  camera  follows,  the  nest  being 
the  object  focused  until  the  old  birds  appear.  I  have  found  it 
advantageous  to  pin  the  focusing  cloth  firmly  around  the 
camera  so  that  it  is  always  in  position  for  use,  and  to  stretch  a 
piece  of  green  denim  on  the  side  of  the  camera  next  the  observer, 


Fig.  41.     Last  hour  of  life  at  the  n 
and  three  young  birds,  only  two  of 


st  of  a  Chebec  family,  consisting  of  the  mother 
vhich   can  be  seen.      June   25,   1903. 


61 


62  Wild  Birds 

fixing  it  between  the  front  fold  of  the  focusing  cloth  and  the 
tent  so  that  it  hangs  vertical,  and  effectually  conceals  the 
operator  when  standing  upright  and  setting  the  shutter.  Peep- 
holes are  made  to  command  all  directions,  and  of  course  the 
nesting  bough  to  which  attention  is  mainly  given.  It  is  con- 
venient to  make  small  V-shaped  openings  which  can  be  pinned 
up  or  down.  A  bird  will  sometimes  detect  some  movement  of 
the  eye  when  close  to  such  openings,  so  that  they  should  not 
be  made  larger  or  more  numerous  than  necessary. 

When  a  photograph  has  been  made  and  the  shutter  is  to  be 
reset,  the  vertical  flap  is  released  from  the  focusing  cloth  and 
carefully  drawn  over  the  window,  if  the  birds  happen  to  be  at 
the  nest,  as  when  the  female  is  brooding.  Otherwise,  if  timid 
or  unaccustomed  to  the  new  conditions,  the  movement  of  the 
hand  may  be  a  source  of  alarm.  I  have  successively  photo- 
graphed family  groups  without  disturbing  them,  when  at  a 
distance  of  twenty -eight  to  thirty-six  inches,  after  they  had 
learned  to  disregard  the  click  of  the  shutter.  When  a  window 
in  a  different  position  is  wanted,  the  old  one  is  patched  up  and 
a  new  one  made. 

Photographic  Screens. — -The  advantages  offered  by  white  or 
neutral  screens  are  most  appreciated  where  no  good  natural 
background  is  available,  and  especially  when  birds  of  dull  or 
spotted  plumage  are  to  be  photographed  against  a  background 
which  is  spotted  by  foliage  or  by  undesirable  objects  of  any 
kind,  which  strongly  reflect  the  light. 

To  be  of  much  service  the  screen  should  be  fairly  large,  and 
with  frame  and  supports  it  is  too  cumbersome  to  be  carried  in  the 
hand,  except  for  short  distances.  Yet,  one  is  often  repaid  for  the 
extra  trouble  involved  in  its  use  by  a  series  of  clear-cut  portraits, 
which  could  not  be  obtained  in  any  other  way.  (See  Figs.  1 1 ,  1 6, 
43-) 

For  ordinary  purposes  a  sheet  of  white  cotton,  seven  to  eight 
feet  long  by  six  to  seven  feet  wide  answers  well.  This  is  tacked 
on  a  folding  deal  frame,  and  erected  at  a  distance  of  from  five 
to  six  feet  behind  the  nest,  or  at  a  point  sufficiently  out  of  focus 
of  the  lens. 


Tent  and  Camera  63 

Protective  Screens  or  Nets. — Whenever  the  nest  is  in  a  ver- 
tical trunk  of  wood,  as  in  the  case  of  Woodpeckers,  Chickadees, 
or  the  little  House  Wrens,  and  this  is  mounted  on  a  pivot,  the 
whole  may  be  easily  defended  from  cats  and  other  enemies  by 
means  of  a  flange  of  zinc  or  tin-plates,  encircling  the  stump  at 
the  proper  height,  or  projecting  from  the  block  to  which  the 
trunk  is  secured. 

A  circular  enclosing  net  may  also  be  used,  and  this  is  neces- 
sary whenever  a  horizontal  branch  is  supported  on  stakes.  For 
this  purpose  there  is  nothing  better  than  the  common  galvan- 
ized iron  wire-cloth  netting  of  one  quarter  inch  mesh.  It 
should  stand  at  least  three  feet  high,  and  should  be  pinned 
close  to  the  ground  by  wire  staples.  To  this  an  overhang  one 
foot  wide  (of  looser  "  poultry  "  netting),  must  be  added  all  the 
way  round.  Such  a  screen  is  warranted  to  stop  the  cat,  as 
well  as  every  rodent  and  snake,  large  or  small. 

Camera. — Any  good  long-bellows  camera  with  reversible  back 
will  answer,  the  size  and  weight  being  the  considerations  of 
greatest  moment.  Most  naturalists  and  sportsmen,  who  travel 
long  distances  and  carry  their  own  traps,  find  a  camera  which 
takes  a  4  x  5  plate  the  most  convenient  and  economical.  I 
commonly  use  this  when  working  with  the  tent,  but  often 
prefer  the  5x7  size  because  it  gives  a  larger  and  better  picture 
of  the  object  sought.  The  large  camera  with  a  heavy  lens  may 
be  a  drag  on  the  mind  and  body  of  the  most  enthusiastic  pedes- 
trian, but  one  is  usually  amply  repaid  for  the  greater  trouble 
involved.  For  long  journeys,  however,  the  lightest  possible 
outfit  is  decidedly  preferable.  In  general  field  work,  moreover, 
a  hand-camera,  carrying  film  of  the  3^x4^  inch,  size,  is  always 
in  demand. 

In  working  at  short  range  with  lenses  of  moderate  focus  the 
long  bellows  is  a  necessity,  and  at  the  same  time  enables  one  to 
take  full-sized  pictures  of  small  objects,  as  well  as  to  use  the 
telephoto  lens  should  this  be  desired.  The  reversible  back, 
making  it  possible  to  reverse  the  position  of  the  plate  without 
moving  the  camera  and  often  without  disturbing  the  bird,  is 
an  adjunct  of  the  greatest  convenience. 


64 


Wild  Birds 


While  the  best  tools  are  always  to  be  desired,  excellent 
pictures  can  be  made  with  a  cheap  outfit,  provided  the  lens  is 
rapid  enough. 


Nearly  all  of  my  own  work  has  been  done  in  the 


Fig.  42.    Observation  tent  on  raised  platform,  and  photographic  screen  for 
studying  a  Red-eyed  Vireo's  nest  in  its  natural  position.    See  Figs.  60  and  66. 

tent  with  the  birds  at  hand,  but  in  taking  quick  shots  of  birds 
or  quadrupeds  when  there  is  no  lure  to  chain  them  to  a  given 
spot  a  hand-box  camera  is  needed.  The  lens  should  be  of  long 
focus,  and  the  adjustments  such  as  to  enable  the  operator  to 


Tent  and  Camera  65 

focus  and  expose  as  nearly  simultaneously  as  possible.  To 
meet  these  requirements  the  twin -lens  and  reflecting  cameras, 
both  of  which  are  old  inventions,1  have  in  recent  years  been 
placed  on  the  market  in  improved  and  serviceable  forms. 

The  "twin-lens"  consists  of  two  cameras,  set  one  above  the 
other,  the  bellows  of  which  move  as  one.  The  lower  takes  the 
picture,  while  the  upper  gives  the  image  which  is  reflected  on 
a  glass  plate  set  in  the  top  of  the  box.  Besides  being  expensive 
and  heavy,  the  trade  sizes  of  these  cameras  are  apt  to  be  of  too 
short  focus  to  be  of  much  service  to  the  animal  photographer. 

The  reflecting  camera  does  the  work  of  the  two  lenses  with 
a  single  lens  and  bellows,  and  in  the  recent  designs  2  is  provided 
with  a  focal  plane  shutter,  which  is  the  best  for  exposures 
quicker  than  the  TJ)(i  second  mark  of  ordinary  shutters.  Like 
the  upper  half  of  the  "twin-lens,"  it  has  a  movable  mirror,  set 
at  an  angle  of  45°,  which  casts  the  image  made  by  the  lens  on  a 
plate  of  ground  glass  set  in  the  top  of  the  box  and  shielded  by 
an  adjustable  hood.  The  mirror  is  so  placed  between  the  plate 
and  lens  that  the  distance  from  lens  to  sensitive  plate  equals 
the  distance  traversed  by  light  in  passing  from  lens  to  mirror 
and  ground  glass.  When  the  object  is  focused,  a  lever  is 
pressed  which  raises  the  mirror  and  automatically  releases  the 
shutter.  One  must  expect  to  find  the  image  on  the  ground  glass 
somewhat  dimmer  than  when  no  interposing  mirror  is  used.  To 
be  most  serviceable  this  camera  should  have  a  long  bellows. 

The  Lens. — In  animal  photography,  short-  and  long-focus  and 
telephoto  lenses  are  available.  My  own  experience  has  been 
mainly  limited  to  the  following:  Zeiss  Anastigmat,  Series  ii  a, 
6£inch.,  speed  -£;  Convertible  Anastigmat,  Series  vii  a,  combined 

1  The  principle  of  the  reflecting  camera  was  applied  as  early  as  1860, 
and  various  forms  of  the  reflex  type  were  devised  during  the  next  thirty 
years.      In   1891   Dr.   Kriigener  of  Frankfort  brought  out  his  "Normal 
Reflex-Camera,"   in  which  the  construction,  though  somewhat  compli- 
cated, was  much  improved.     The  principles  are  essentially  the  same  in 
the  later  designs :  see  Ausfuhrliches  Handbuch  der  Photographic,  by  Josef 
Maria  Eder,  Halle,  1891. 

2  The  improved  Graflex  camera,  manufactured  by  The  Folmer  and 
Schwing  Mfg.  Co.,  New  York,  is  excellent  in  design  and  workmanship. 

s 


66  Wild  Birds 

equivalent  focus  8  inches,  speed  £  ;  Extra  Rapid  Universal 
Lens,  Series  D,  gTV  inch.,  speed  ^;  Plastigmat,  No.  4,  gi  inch., 
speed  ^j.1 

The  convertible  anastigmats  are  convertible  in  two  or  three 
lenses  of  different  foci,  according  as  the  single  anastigmats  are 
of  equal  or  different  foci.  They  thus  combine  in  a  single  lens 
the  possibilities  of  working  with  short  and  long  foci,  the 
greatest  speed  being  obtained  when  each  system  of  the  doublet 
has  the  same  focus. 

The  cheaper  plastigmat  lenses  are  equally  serviceable  for 
work  in  the  field.  In  these  the  rear  lens,  which  has  twice  the 
focal  length  of  the  doublet,  may  be  used  separately,  but  of 
course  with  a  greatly  reduced  speed.  Those  who  have  worked 
also  with  the  Goertz  lenses  of  similar  focus  and  speed  will  find 
little  to  be  desired  in  the  possibilities  of  the  best  photographic 
instruments. 

In  photographing  animals  close  at  hand,  the  anastigmatic 
qualities  of  a  lens  count  for  little.  It  is  depth  of  focus  com- 
bined with  high  speed  which  are  most  needed,  consequently  any 
lens  possessing  these  qualities  will  answer. 

One  of  the  most  difficult  problems  in  bird-photography  has 
hitherto  been  that  of  approach  within  "shooting"  distance. 
The  control  of  the  nesting  site  and  the  use  of  the  tent  offer  a 
solution  so  far  as  life  at  the  nest  is  concerned,  in  at  least  many 
species,  and  the  tent  in  its  general  use  does  away  with  the  need 
of  the  very  long-focus  or  telephoto  lenses. 

In  photographing  birds  sitting,  brooding,  or  standing  at  the 
nest  there  is  no  difficulty  with  a  lens  of  speed  -5-,  which  requires 
•2*5-  second  to  fully  expose  the  plate,  at  a  distance  of  twenty- 
eight  inches  with  full  lens  and  strong  light.  With  scenes  in 
which  the  actors  are  in  constant  motion,  however,  we  require 
a  much  faster  lens,  which  will  reduce  the  exposure  to  at  least 
FV  of  a  second.  But  little  is  gained,  however,  in  attempting  to 
use  long-focus  lenses  at  such  short  distances,  since  in  stopping 
the  lens  to  ensure  the  proper  depth  of  focus  we  are  certain  to 

1  These  lenses  are  made  by  the  Bausch  &  Lomb  Optical  Co.,  Rochester, 
N.  Y. 


Tent  and  Camera  67 

sacrifice    too   much   light.     When   large   pictures   are   desired, 
better  pictorial  results  are  obtained  by  increasing  the  distance 


Fig.  43.  Female  Flicker  entering  nest.  Compare  with  picture  of 
mate  (Fig.  137),  in  which  regurgitation  of  food  is  in  progress.  The 
spotting  of  the  under  parts  is  very  different,  and  in  this  bird  the  black 
crescent  on  the  breast  is  divided  in  the  middle.  July  25,  1902. 

and  using  lenses  of  moderate  focus.     Having  once  obtained  per- 
fect negatives,  enlargements  on  bromide  paper  are  easily  made. 


68  Wild  Birds 

For  photographing  inaccessible  nests,  and  birds  which  pose 
well  but  are  unapproachable  under  ordinary  conditions,  we 
must  resort  to  the  long-focus  and  telephoto  lenses.  The  long 
exposure  required  for  the  telephoto  lenses  now  on  the  market, 
from  one  half  a  second  to  a  second  or  more,  restricts  their  use 
to  comparatively  rare  and  lucky  chances. 

The  Tripod. — When  two  cameras  are  carried  of  the  4x5 
and  5x7  size,  a  single  tripod  will  answer  for  both,  provided  it 
is  moderately  stiff  about  the  head.  A  two-length  tripod  of 
medium  weight  will  serve  most  purposes,  but  a  shorter  one  is 
also  required  for  nests  on  or  near  the  ground.  This  is  best 
made  by  cutting  down  one  of  the  ordinary  kind,  rather  than 
resorting  to  those  of  the  multifolding  type,  which,  unless  made 
of  metal,  are  constantly  spreading  and  slipping  at  critical 
moments. 

The  "Graphic"  ball-and-socket  clamp,  used  as  a  camera 
holder  for  the  bicycle,  has  been  strongly  recommended  as  a 
substitute  for  the  tripod  or  as  an  adjunct  to  it,  as  in  photo- 
graphing nests  in  trees,  when  the  clamp,  which  is  screwed  to 
the  camera,  is  fastened  to  a  convenient  limb,  but  since  my  own 
work  has  been  of  another  kind  I  have  had  little  occasion  for  its 
use. 

The  Shutter. — In  photographing  birds  whose  sense  of  hear- 
ing is  well  known  to  be  acute,  next  to  a  good  lens  a  silent 
shutter  is  most  needed,  especially  when  the  camera  is  less  than 
three  feet  away.  The  shutter  which  is  silent  not  only  in  name 
but  in  actual  use  and  at  all  speeds  is  still  one  of  the  greatest 
needs  in  the  close-at-hand  photography  of  animals,  and  es- 
pecially of  birds. 

Birds  will  often  jump  into  the  air  as  if  shot,  at  the  first 
click  of  the  metallic  shutter.  Fortunately,  however,  the  force 
of  habit  now  conies  to  our  aid,  since  they  gradually  learn  that 
it  is  harmless,  and  may  be  safely  disregarded. 

The  "iris  diaphragm  shutter,"  which  I  have  mainly  used, 
is  often  troublesome  in  that  some  part  of  the  sound  arises  at  the 
very  beginning  of  the  exposure,  so  that  a  startled  bird  in  the 
course  of  -£5  of  a  second  may  be  all  over  your  plate.  The 


Tent  and  Camera 


69 


marks  on  all  such  shutters,  which  are  conventional  rather  than 
exact  time  measurements,  differ  in  different  shutters  of  the 
same  or  different  make,  and  their  limit  of  rapidity  does  not 


Fig.  44.    Female  Brown  Thrush  stepping  into  her  nest  to  brood. 

exceed  "y^  second."     For  greater  speeds   the   focal-plane  or 
some  other  very  rapid  shutter  must  be  used. 

Plates. — For  animal  photography  the  most  rapid  plates  are 
none  too  fast,  and  any  of  the  best  brands  can  be  recommended. 


7o  Wild  Birds 

It  is  always  a  good  plan  to  adhere  to  one  kind  which  has  proved 
satisfactory.  One  piece  of  advice  should  not  come  amiss,  which 
is  to  always  use  fresh  plates,  and  all  of  the  same  emulsion  if 
possible,  and  if  any  doubt  as  to  their  age  exists,  to  test  them 
before  starting  on  an  expedition.  Old  plates  blacken  along 
their  edges  in  a  characteristic  manner  when  placed  in  the  de- 
veloper, and  if  deterioration  passes  this  stage  the  whole  plate 
will  fog.  The  dusting  of  plates,  slides,  and  holders  before 
reloading,  and  the  carriage  of  all  unused  plates  in  a  dust-proof 
bag,  are  as  much  a  necessity  now  as  ever. 

Much  of  my  own  work  has  been  done  in  the  country  with 
dark  room  and  base  of  supplies  close  at  hand.  Under  these 
conditions  it  is  not  necessary  to  carry  more  than  two  or  three 
dozen  plates  at  a  time.  By  developing  on  the  day  of  exposure 
it  is  possible  to  correct  errors  or  fill  up  the  gaps  on  the  day 
following. 

When  time  exposures  can  be  given,  orthochromatic  plates 
offer  advantages  which  should  not  be  neglected,  but  when  the 
exposure  is  necessarily  rapid,  the  ordinary  and  cheaper  plate 
is  equally  good. 

Flash  Light. — The  Ideal  Flash  Gun  (size  No.  2)  has  been 
highly  recommended  for  use  either  at  night  or  on  dull  days.  It 
burns  luxo  powder,  a  powerful  compound,  which  should  never 
be  confined  in  an  ordinary  flash-lamp,  and  must  be  handled 
with  exceptional  care. 

Record  of  Observations. — It  is  perhaps  unnecessary  to  suggest 
that  all  records  of  observations  should  be  systematically  made 
on  the  spot  and  with  great  care.  Experienced  students  gener- 
ally develop  a  system  of  their  own,  which  in  many  cases  suits 
their  needs  so  well  as  to  leave  little  to  be  desired.  I  venture, 
however,  for  the  possible  benefit  of  a  few,  to  describe  my 
own  plan,  which  has  the  merits  of  extreme  convenience  and 
simplicity. 

All  field  records  and  notes  of  every  description  are  made  on 
punched,  and  generally  ruled,  sheets,  of  uniform  size,  measuring 
3|  by  6J  inches.  These  are  temporarily  "bound"  in  stiff  card- 
boards so  as  to  open  the  long  way,  by  means  of  adjustable  rings 


Tent  and  Camera  71 

or  simply  with  strings,  the  ends  of  which  are  joined  to  prevent 
the  knots  from  running  into  the  book.  When  in  use  the  book 
is  turned  inside  out,  so  that  the  covers,  which  are  brought 
together,  afford  a  firm  support  for  the  pen  or  pencil.  The  size 
of  the  book  is  adjusted  to  the  needs  of  the  day,  and  is  always 
comparatively  light.  When  the  pages  are  full,  the  notes  are 
filed  and  the  sheets  are  renewed.  At  the  end  of  the  day,  week, 
or  year  the  notes  are  assorted,  and  those  pertaining  to  a  given 
subject,  falling  into  their  proper  place  and  in  chronological 
order,  are  "bound,"  or  tied  up,  with  proper  titles,  in  a  series 
of  booklets.  A  book  is  devoted  to  every  important  subject, 
while  all  miscellaneous  notes  are  temporarily  gathered  into  a 
single  "volume."  The  only  rule  required  is  to  use  separate 
pages  for  each  subject.  The  system  is  perfectly  elastic,  and 
combines  the  advantages  of  a  card  index  and  ordinary  note- 
book, without  their  defects.  In  the  course  of  time,  in  place  of 
a  series  of  cards,  scraps,  or  records  of  observations  buried  in 
notebooks,  an  orderly  series  of  "volumes"  appears.  The 
notes  upon  a  given  subject  are  always  in  their  proper  place,  and 
that  place  can  always  be  found.  This  method  can  be  used 
with  equal  advantage,  whatever  the  nature  of  the  subject. 

Accessories. — The  minor  articles  which  are  needed  to  com- 
plete the  photographer's  outfit,  all  of  which  can  be  rolled  up 
with  the  tent  or,  better,  carried  in  a  hand-bag,  will  be  suggested 
by  a  little  experience  in  the  field.  A  saw,  hatchet,  and  nails 
are  often  required,  as  well  as  scissors,  pins,  the  supply  of  which 
is  always  liable  to  run  out,  and  a  small  hand-mirror  for  use  in 
setting  the  shutter  from  the  rear.  A  toilet  hand-mirror  which 
can  be  turned  at  any  angle  is  a  convenient  means  of  inspecting 
the  interior  of  nests  inaccessible  to  the  hand,  but  within  reach 
of  the  mirror  attached  to  a  pole. 


CHAPTER  IV 

THE  ROBIN  AT  ARM'S  LENGTH 

NO  bird  is  better  known  in  America  than  the  Robin  who 
annually  visits  nearly  every  part  of  the  continent.  Upon 
the  whole  it  shuns  the  forest  and  comes  to  the  haunts  of 
man,  to  the  farm,  the  village,  and  the  city  street,  with  their 
attractive  orchards  and  parks,  their  long  lines  of  shade  trees 
and  green  lawns. 

Is  it  possible  to  say  anything  new  about  such  a  familiar  per- 
sonality? Not  much,  you  may  think,  yet  it  will  be  interesting 
to  study  our  friend  at  a  closer  range  than  is  usually  possible. 
In  this  case  we  shall  "make  the  mountain  come  to  Mahomet," 
or  bring  the  nest  from  the  tree  top  to  a  point  nearer  the  ground, 
where  there  is  no  foliage  to  obscure  our  vision,  and  where  we 
can  see  everything  that  transpires  within  reach  of  the  hand. 

Birds  differ  slightly  in  every  bodily  character,  as  well  as  in 
every  mental  trait,  arid  while  we  commonly  meet  with  average 
types,  extremes  of  temperament  are  by  no  means  rare.  This 
fact  is  illustrated  by  the  Robins  whose  history  follows. 

One  pair  dwelt  in  the  woods  and  was  exceedingly  wary, 
while  the  other  was  comfortably  settled  in  town,  and  lived  on  a 
familiar  footing  with  man.  The  town  Robins  had,  I  suspected, 
already  led  forth  a  brood  from  a  pine  tree  on  the  bank  close  to 
my  house,  but  at  all  events  there  was  a  new  nest  in  the  apple 
tree  on  the  top  of  the  hill,  and  on  the  twenty-fifth  of  July  the 
mother  bird  was  sitting  on  three  blue  eggs.  Incubation  lasted 
about  two  weeks,  and  life  at  the  nest  about  twelve  days. 

When  the  young  were  eight  days  old,  the  entire  bough  was 
sawn  off,  carefully  lowered  to  the  ground,  and  set  up  on  the 

72 


The  Robin  at  Arm's  Length 


73 


hillside.  In  exactly  fifty -five  minutes  from  the  beginning  of 
operations  the  mother  appeared  with  a  large  grasshopper,  which 
she  gave  to  the  young,  and  afterwards  cleaned  the  nest.  The 


Fig.  45-     Female  Robin  brooding  on  a  hot  day — her  left  wing  pushed  up  by  a 
young  bird. 

male  came  also,  when  the  comparative  safety  of  the  new  con- 
ditions had  become  apparent,  but  approached  with  more  cau- 
tion. At  first  both  birds  flew  to  the  tree  by  their  accustomed 
paths,  and  examined  the  place  where  their  bough  had  been 


74  Wild  Birds 

lopped  off,  and  in  their  admirable  and  fearless  manner  blustered 
about  for  a  while,  taking  no  pains  to  conceal  their  anger.  Of 
course  they  knew  where  their  young  were  all  the  time,  for  in 
certain  directions  their  vision  is  keener  than  any  man's. 

We  know  well  with  what  confidence  the  Robin  flies  to  its 
nest  when  no  danger  threatens,  but  under  the  present  circum- 
stances their  suspicions  might  well  have  been  aroused.  The 
absence  of  sound  and  motion  in  strange  objects  is  always  re- 
assuring, and  soon  Mother  Robin  could  be  seen  perched  on  the 
top  of  an  apple  tree,  surveying  the  field.  She  called  seetl  seetf 
while  the  grasshopper  in  her  bill  squirmed  to  get  free,  and  the 
young  chirped  loudly  in  reply. 

When  their  behavior  is  free  and  spontaneous  it  is  pleasant 
to  see  these  birds  act  promptly  without  apparent  hesitation. 
They  haggle  over  nothing,  but  follow  the  bent  of  their  strongest 
instincts.  In  the  present  case,  the  fear  which  controls  them  for 
a  time  and  overpowers  their  strong  parental  love  is  gradually 
worn  away.  Suddenly  down  comes  one  of  the  old  birds  with 
all  its  weight  on  the  limb.  The  young  have  felt  similar  vibra- 
tions before  and  know  what  to  expect.  Up  go  the  three  heads 
at  once,  each  mounted  on  a  slender  stalk,  and  each  bearing  at 
its  apex  what  might  suggest  a  full-blown,  brilliant  flower,  for,  as 
is  well  known,  the  extent  of  their  gape  is  extraordinary  and  the 
inside  of  the  mouth  has  a  bright  orange  hue.  The  young 
tremble  with  violent  emotions  as  they  jostle,  struggle,  and  call 
with  undiminished  zeal  even  after  being  fed. 

After  the  first  visit  had  proved  successful,  and  confidence 
was  established,  the  female  and  later  the  male  came  to  the 
young  at  intervals  of  about  five  minutes,  bringing  grasshoppers, 
and  occasionally  removing  the  excreta  or  devouring  it  on  the 
spot.  They  frequently  carried  five  or  six  insects  at  one  load, 
when  their  bills  would  suggest  a  solid  stalk  of  grasshoppers,  all 
struggling  to  get  free. 

They  waste  nothing,  and  rarely  allow  a  cricket  or  grass- 
hopper to  escape,  but,  releasing  one  at  a  time,  see  it  safely  down 
an  open  mouth.  Then  after  inspection  is  over  they  fly  to  the 
nearest  perch  and  make  haste  to  clean  their  bills  and  set  their 


Fig.  46.     Male  Robin  serving  a  cluster  of  angleworms  and  a  grasshopper.     Notice 
his  position  here  on  the  right  as  in  all  other  pictures  of  this  nest.     See  Chapter  XIII. 

75 


76  Wild  Birds 

dress  in  order.  This  done,  there  is  often  a  pause  of  a  few  mo- 
ments, as  if  in  doubt  whether  to  hunt  more  grasshoppers,  to  dig 
angleworms  in  yonder  cornfield,  or  to  try  the  cherry  trees  along 
the  fence-row.  They  will  take  everything  which  their  sharp 
eyes  discern,  and  often  pick  up  an  insect  close  to  the  nest. 

One  Robin  at  the  age  of  eleven  days  left  the  family  circle 
early  on  August  i3th,  and  at  nine  o'clock  the  two  which  re- 
mained were  standing  up  and  napping  their  wings.  The  old 
birds  would  come  near,  displaying  tempting  morsels  in  their 
bills,  but  with  no  intention  of  feeding  their  young  so  long  as 
they  remained  on  the  nest.  By  such  tantalizing  methods  they 
soon  drew  them  away.  Both  old  and  young  hung  about  the 
apple  trees  for  several  days,  when  they  disappeared  and  were 
not  seen  again. 

At  the  stage  of  flight  the  young  Robins  have  several  distinct 
call  and  alarm  notes  like  those  of  the  adult  birds.  They  can 
take  short,  low  flights,  can  hop  briskly,  and  go  to  cover  in- 
stinctively whether  with  or  without  warnings  from  their  parents. 
They  will  also  lie  quiet  in  the  grass,  as  in  hiding,  a  common 
instinctive  act. 

The  second  family  of  Robins  nested  high  in  an  oak,  and 
whenever  they  were  approached  the  old  birds  made  an  ad- 
mirable show  of  pugnacity,  scolding,  screaming,  erecting  their 
feathers,  snapping  their  bills,  and  darting  straight  at  your  head. 
Their  nesting  branch  was  taken  from  the  woods  to  a  bare,  open 
field,  and  set  up  sixty  feet  from  the  tree  in  the  way  already 
described.  The  first  morning's  experience  was  rather  dis- 
couraging, for  neither  bird  would  come  to  its  nest  while  the 
tent  was  in  front  of  it.  They  called  plaintively  from  the  trees, 
and  circled  about  the  nesting  bough  again  and  again,  but  al- 
ways kept  at  a  distance.  Accordingly,  after  feeding  the  young, 
I  decided  to  strike  tent  and  wait  until  next  day.  There  was  a 
heavy  thunder  storm  in  the  afternoon,  but  when  I  visited  the 
nest  towards  evening  I  was  pleased  to  find  the  young  as  lively 
as  ever,  and  the  old  birds  on  guard  with  their  usual  spirit  and 
tenacity  unimpaired. 

The  next  morning  they  stormed  vigorously  about  the  tent 


The  Robin  at  Arm's  Length  77 

and  the  male  even  came  to  the  nest  while  I  was  standing  near. 
After  closing  the  tent  I  was  under  the  cross-fire  of  their  wrath 
for  seven  or  eight  minutes,  when  the  alarm  calls  suddenly 
ceased,  and  in  two  minutes  more  the  mother  was  on  the  nesting 
bough.  The  female  actually  came  to  the  nest  or  to  the  branch 
which  held  it  eight  times  in  succession,  in  the  space  of  twelve 
minutes,  with  insect  ready  but  without  delivering  it.  Matters 
did  not  altogether  please  her  yet,  and  with  a  shrill  seet !  seet ! 
away  she  would  go,  but  only  to  return  a  half  minute  later. 
Finally  she  came  boldly  to  the  nest's  brim,  uttered  a  sound  like 
cuck!  cuck!  which  means  "Open  wide!"  and  produced  a  number 
of  sturdy-looking  grasshoppers.  Two  minutes  later  the  mother 
came  again,  and  after  feeding  the  young,  picked  them  all  over, 
spending  a  minute  and  a  half  in  the  duties  of  inspecting  and 
cleaning.  It  was  a  hard  task  to  conquer  these  birds,  but  they 
had  to  submit  to  the  inevitable,  and  I  have  no  doubt  but  a  few 
days  more  would  have  brought  them  to  the  hand. 

The  greater  strength  of  parental  instinct  in  the  mother  was 
well  illustrated  by  the  behavior  of  these  Robins.  The  female 
was  always  first  at  the  nest,  and  came  at  forty  minutes  after 
nine  o'clock  on  the  second  day.  The  male,  though  constantly 
skirmishing  about  with  bill  loaded,  was  not  on  the  branch  with 
food  until  two  hours  and  ten  minutes  later.  Meantime  the 
mother  had  been  giving  the  young  her  constant  attention.  The 
cock,  though  at  the  nest  or  on  the  bough  several  times,  did  not 
actually  have  the  courage  to  feed  his  little  ones  until  long  past 
noon.  In  the  performance  of  this  duty  he  was  three  hours  and 
four  minutes  behind  his  mate. 

When  the  male  did  come  at  last  and  deliver  food,  he  gave 
the  nest  a  good  cleaning,  and  flew  off  to  a  corn  patch  a  hundred 
yards  away.  In  thirteen  minutes,  during  which  interval  the 
female  had  brought  grasshoppers  twice,  the  male  returned 
triumphantly  with  a  great  cluster  of  writhing  angleworms. 
After  safely  dispensing  them,  he  went  the  rounds  of  inspection, 
devoured  the  excreta,  then  stood  for  a  full  minute  on  the  rim  of 
his  nest  and  with  crest  erect  called,  wit!  wit!  wit!  as  if  to  cele- 
brate a  victory  and  announce  his  bravery  to  the  world.  Now 


78  Wild  Birds 

and  again  the  cock  came  to  the  nesting  bough  but  without  food. 
He  wished  only  to  take  a  look  and  see  that  all  was  well.  At  one 
of  these  visits  he  stood  on  silent  guard  for  full  ten  minutes,  then 
sped  away,  calling  loudly,  wit !  wit  I  wit ! 


Fig.  47.    Cock  Robin  standing  at  inspection,  after  having  fed  his  young. 

When  eight  days  old,  on  July  26th,  the  young  began  to 
present  their  spotted  breasts  over  the  walls  of  the  nest  and  to 
spread,  stretch,  and  flap  their  wings,  the  quills  of  which  now 
showed  half  an  inch  of  feather  at  the  tips.  At  every  visit  of 
their  elders  the  whole  brood  went  wild  with  excitement,  but 
soon  quieted  down,  and  the  intervals  were  spent  in  preening 


The  Robin  at  Arm's  Length  79 

their  sprouting  feathers,  calling  for  more  food,  or  dozing  with 
heads  hanging  down  over  the  edge  of  the  nest. 

The  third  day  opened  warm  and  clear,  and  towards  noon 
became  very  hot.  Mother  Robin  began  to  brood  at  twelve 
o'clock  and  for  the  space  of  three  hours  was  on  and  off  the  nest 
constantly,  rarely  remaining  longer  than  ten  minutes  at  a  time 
either  at  her  post  or  away  from  it.  On  the  fourth  day,  July 
28th,  which  was  destined  to  be  hotter  still,  brooding  began  at 
exactly  eighteen  minutes  before  ten  o'clock,  and  the  mother  was 
quietly  sitting  over  the  little  ones  when  the  tent  was  struck 
long  past  noon. 

Many  charming  scenes  were  enacted  at  this  nest  during  the 
day,  but  colored  phrases  or  colorless  pictures  do  them  scant 
justice.  You  must  fill  in  the  backgrounds  of  soft  blues  and 
greens,  and  add  the  touch  of  life  and  color  to  the  actors  on  the 
stage. 

The  following  extracts  from  my  notes  of  this  day  may  give 
some  idea  of  the  panoramic  character  of  the  scenes,  in  which  the 
element  of  repetition  is  not  wanting. 

July  28,  4th  day  in  tent.  10  A.M.  The  female  comes  to  the 
back  of  the  nest,  delivers  food  and  goes  the  rounds  of  in- 
spection and  cleaning,  devouring  the  excreta  on  the  spot, 
then  settles  down  on  the  margin  of  the  nest,  steps  in,  and 
gradually  tucks  the  young  under  her  breast  and  wings. 
10.12.  A  whirring  sound  announces  the  coming  of  the  male. 
He  approaches  always  on  the  observer's  right,  and  de- 
liberately hops  down  to  the  nest.  He  is  bringing  a  big 
cluster  of  earthworms.  The  young  get  the  message  the 
moment  the  branch  is  touched,  and  poke  their  heads  out 
from  under  their  mother's  tail,  wings,  and  head,  some- 
times raising  her  bodily,  and  almost  tipping  her  over. 
However,  she  holds  her  place  until  her  mate  is  close  by, 
then  hops  up  and  stands  to  one  side,  finally  leaving  him 
to  deliver  what  he  has  brought. 

10.15.  The  mother  is  back  with  food,  but  it  was  down  the 
throat  of  a  young  one  before  I  could  tell  what  it  was. 
Cleaning  and  brooding  followed  in  due  course  as  before. 


8o  Wild  Birds 

10.18.  Cock  Robin  comes  again,  but  my  eye  was  again  off  the 
nest,  and  in  a  moment  the  business  was  done.  Mother 
Robin  stays  and  broods.  I  change  the  shutter,  open 
and  close  the  tent  window,  without  giving  her  any  ap- 
parent anxiety. 

10.30.  Another  visit  from  the  male,  who  comes  quickly,  de- 
livers a  grasshopper  or  two  and  departs,  while  his  faith- 
ful mate  resumes  her  post  of  duty. 

10.45.  The  cock  brings  another  coil  of  angleworms,  and  the 
hen,  leaving  her  charge  just  long  enough  for  the  business 
of  feeding,  drops  back  on  the  nest. 

10.55.  The  male  is  taking  it  easy.  This  time  he  has  an  un- 
usually large  grasshopper,  which  is  not  cut  in  twain,  but 
delivered  whole.  At  the  signal  of  his  approach  the 
mother  leaves,  having  brooded  forty  minutes  by  the 
watch. 

10.57.  Two  minutes  elapse.  Back  comes  the  alma  mater, 
loaded  to  the  muzzle  with  blueberries,  which  are  shot 
out  one  by  one,  and  strike  the  yellow  targets  in  the 
bull's  eye  every  time.  She  comes  to  the  farther  side  and 
broods  at  the  moment  the  preliminary  work  of  feeding 
and  inspection  is  over. 

11.16.  The  male  has  now  brought  a  load  of  bright  red  choke- 
cherries.  He  hops  down  the  branch  by  the  usual  path 
and  up  to  the  nest,  but  the  female,  who  is  brooding, 
strangely  keeps  her  position  and,  whether  from  absent- 
mindedness  or  caprice,  refuses  to  budge.  When  the 
male  gives  an  impatient  cuck!  cuck!  the  mother  can  keep 
her  position  no  longer,  for  the  young  upset  her  equi- 
librium in  their  struggle,  and  she  hops  to  one  side.  Re- 
suming her  place  she  sits  there  in  the  bright  sunshine, 
with  back  to  the  tent,  mouth  agape,  and  crest  erect. 
Twenty  inches  away  are  the  tent,  the  camera,  and  the 
eye  of  the  observer,  but  for  none  of  these  things  does  she 
now  care  a  straw.  They  have  been  thoroughly  tested 
and  found  harmless. 

11.43.     Cock  Robin  is  on  hand  with  a  beak  full  of  grasshoppers, 


Fig.  48.     Female  Robin  inspecting  her  household  immediately  after  the  young  have 
been  fed:  a  characteristic  attitude. 

6  81 


82  Wild  Birds 

coming,  as  is  now  his  invariable  custom,  to  the  right 
side.  On  this  occasion  the  mother  hopped  up  promptly 
and  received  a  part  of  the  food  into  her  own  bill.  Did 
she  eat  it  ?  Not  a  particle !  The  young  got  it  all.  The 
male  then  retired,  followed  closely  by  his  mate.  In  one 
minute  she  has  captured  prey  and  is  back  to  her  brood. 
The  young  erect  their  crests  like  their  elders,  and  flapping 
their  half -fledged  wings,  try  to  climb  to  the  edge  of  the 
nest,  but  without  success. 

The  last  day  of  July  opened  hot  and  sultry,  and  when  I  ap- 
proached the  nest  one  young  Robin  was  already  out,  and  making 
for  the  highest  point  of  the  nesting  bough.  He  cheeped  aloud 
for  food,  and  looked  uncomfortable,  for  the  heat  was  already 
strong.  The  male  only  was  in  attendance  as  on  the  previous  day, 
the  female  being  occupied,  as  I  suspected,  in  starting  a  new  nest. 
It  was  difficult  to  get  any  food  past  this  enterprising  fledgling, 
who  stood  in  the  path  and  took  everything  that  was  brought. 
Several  times  the  bird  would  make  a  move  as  if  intending  to  fly 
to  the  peak  of  the  tent,  and  might  have  done  so,  had  I  not 
decided  to  replace  him  in  his  nest.  The  expected  certainly 
happened,  for  all  tumbled  out,  shrieking  and  squealing.  Put 
them  back  and  out  they  would  go  again,  and  flop  down  on  the 
grass.  At  last  two  birds  consented  to  remain  for  a  few  minutes, 
when  the  male  came  with  an  angleworm  and  a  large  green 
katydid.  He  paused  a  moment  while  I  photographed  him,  and 
this  proved  to  be  the  closing  scene.  The  curtain  dropped 
suddenly,  when  first  one  bird  and  then  the  other  left  their 
home  forever,  not  even  waiting  to  get  the  katydid.  The  old 
bird  at  once  led  his  brood  to  the  woods,  and  being  able  to  take 
short  flights  they  had  no  difficulty  in  finding  safe  quarters. 

The  number  of  times  the  young  are  fed  in  the  course  of  the 
day  depends  upon  their  age  and  the  weather.  The  older  they 
are  the  more  food  they  require.  At  this  nest  the  labor  of  feed- 
ing and  cleaning  was  shared  about  equally  by  both  birds,  but 
on  hot  days  the  female  was  necessarily  less  active  since  there 
was  much  brooding  to  be  done,  and  the  instinct  of  the  male  is 
but  feebly  developed  in  this  direction. 


The  Robin  at  Arm's  Length 


The  following  table  illustrates  the  relative  activities  of  this 
pair  in  caring  for  their  young,  the  time  of  observation  being  ap- 
proximately from  nine  o'clock  until  three  in  the  afternoon. 


PERIOD  OF  OBSERVA- 
TION. 

SECOND  DAY. 

THIRD  DAY. 

FOURTH  DAY. 

Age  of  young  
Fed  by  male  

8  days 
15  times 

9  days 
24  times 

10  days 
15  times 

Brooded  by  female.  .  . 
Rate  of  feeding  
Period  of  observation  . 

Once  in  11-12  min. 
9.30  A.M.  to  3.53  P.M. 

6  times  (44  min.) 
Once  in  7-8  min. 

Q.OS  A.M.  tO  3.44  P.M. 

3  times  (2  hours  41  min.) 
Once  in  8-9  min. 
9.1  1  A.M.  to  1.58  P.M. 

The  nature  of  the  food,  which  depends  much  on  the  local 
supply  or  the  condition  of  the  market,  consisted  mainly  of 
grasshoppers  and  angleworms,  to  which  we  must  add  a  few 
insect  larva?,  beetles,  locusts,  and  katydids,  while  the  list  of 
fruits  included  blueberries — most  in  favor, — choke-cherries,  and 
raspberries. 

As  to  the  sanitation  of  the  nest,  inspection,  as  we  have  seen, 
follows  each  feeding.  The  nest  was  cleaned  during  the  period 
given  in  the  table  every  fifteen  minutes,  and  mostly  by  the 
female,  who  devoured  a  part  of  the  excreta  at  the  nest  and 
carried  the  rest  away. 

The  Robin  has  been  known  to  pass  the  winter  in  Nova 
Scotia,  where  it  feeds  on  wild  dry  fruits,  like  dogwood  berries, 
and  at  all  intermediate  points  between  its  northern  and  southern 
ranges,  wherever  the  food  supply  is  good.  Thus  in  the  cold 
valleys  of  the  White  Mountains,  where  there  is  snow  during  the 
greater  part  of  the  year,  and  where  the  mercury  sometimes 
freezes,  flocks  of  Robins  are  said  to  spend  the  winter,  feeding 
on  the  wild  berries  which  are  cached  above  the  snow.  The 
winter  birds  are  probably  in  most  cases  migrants  from  farther 
north. 

The  food  of  the  Robin  consists,  as  we  have  seen,  of  small 
animals,  mainly  insects  and  worms,  and  of  wild  fruits  in  about 
equal  quantity.  It  has  been  shown  *  that  cultivated  fruits  are 

1  By  Beal  who  found  forty-two  per  cent,  of  animal  matter  in  three 
hundred  and  thirty  stomachs  of  these  birds. 


84 


Wild  Birds 


eaten  only  as  a  makeshift  and  mainly  in  the  months  of  June 
and  July. 

Spring  Robins  reach  Cleveland,  Ohio,  on  the  last  days  of 
February  or  the  first  of  March,   central  New  Hampshire   the 


Fig.  49.    Female  Robin  in  act  of  cleaning  the  nest. 

third  week  in  March,  and  I  have  seen  them  in  Burlington,  Ver- 
mont, on  March  3oth.  A  few  Bluebirds  are  usually  reported  on 
the  same  day.  In  1900,  Robins  were  heard  or  seen  in  different 
parts  of  Cleveland  on  the  ninth  of  March,  a  mild,  bright  day, 
while  but  a  week  before  the  country  was  in  the  grip  of  one  of 
the  worst  ice-storms  ever  known  in  this  region.  Every  ex- 


The  Robin  at  Arm's  Length  85 

posed  object  was  incased  in  solid  ice  for  days  and  the  birds 
fasted  or  starved. 

In  the  choice  of  a  nesting  site,  the  Robin,  as  we  have  seen, 
obeys  no  law.  The  apple  tree,  which  from  its  mode  of  branch- 
ing yields  wide  open  crotches  and  safe  horizontal  supports,  is 
generally  chosen,  but  they  also  resort  to  the  leafy  elm,  the  ever- 
green, the  dense  and  remote  woods,  or,  like  the  Phcebe,  accept 
the  hospitality  of  barn,  porch,  or  shed. 

Where  the  nest  has  already  begun  to  crumble  into  ruins  by 
the  time  the  young  fly,  it  is  often  abandoned  and  a  new  one  built 
for  the  second  brood,  but  whether  a  new  nest  shall  be  built  or 
not  depends  more  upon  the  strength  of  the  building  instinct  or 
individual  caprice  than  actual  need.  The  old  nest  is  sometimes 
repaired,  or  even  occupied  without  change  during  the  same 
season.  On  the  other  hand,  three  nests  are  sometimes  built 
in  line  and  under  cover,  where  a  single  one  if  put  in  good  repair 
would  have  answered  the  purpose.  I  once  saw  a  Robin's  nest 
fixed  to  the  end  of  a  stick  of  wood  that  leaned  against  the  side 
of  a  barn,  and  the  stone -gray  color  of  the  background  formed 
an  excellent  screen  for  its  concealment. 


Young  of  the  European  Blackbird 
or  Ousel,  first  cousin  of  the  Ameri- 
can Robin. 


CHAPTER  V 

THE  CEDAR-BIRD 

ON  the  twenty-seventh  of  May,  I  saw  a  small  company  of 
birds  settling  in  the  topmost  branches  of  an  elm.  You 
might  infer  from  their  behavior  that  they  were  new  arrivals. 
They  keep  together,  sit  prim  and  erect,  and  move  about  as  if 
under  discipline.  With  a  glass  you  can  see  their  erected  crests, 
their  sleek  drab  plumage,  and  recognize  at  once  the  familiar 
Cedar-  or  Cherry -bird. 

At  Northfield,  New  Hampshire,  the  earliest  nests  have  eggs 
by  the  first  or  second  week  in  June,  but  the  breeding  season  is 
not  at  its  height  until  the  last  of  July  or  August.  A  few  still 
have  young  in  the  nest  in  early  September,  when  many  are  nock- 
ing or  have  already  started  southward.  Professor  Baird  speaks 
of  finding  these  birds  sitting  on  their  unhatched  eggs  as  late  as 
the  twelfth  day  of  October. 

The  winter  flocks  of  Cedar  Waxwings,  which  are  occasionally 
seen  in  northern  New  England,  are  probably  migrants  whose 
summer  home  is  farther  north. 

The  Cedar-birds  borrow  no  trouble  from  their  neighbors,  and 
seem  to  lead  a  life  of  ease  and  pleasure,  lessening  their  denomi- 
nator when  the  times  are  hard,  but  living  high  when  cherries 
are  ripe.  The  nesting  season,  which  brings  much  that  is  sweet 
and  bitter  to  the  lives  of  most  birds,  appears  to  give  them  the 
least  anxiety.  The  immaturity  of  their  eggs  at  a  time  when 
most  of  our  birds  have  already  reared  their  first  broods  is  a 
striking  fact,  and  is  due  to  some  unknown  cause  which  retards 
the  growth  of  the  ovaries.  It  is  evidently  not  caused  by  a  lack 
of  suitable  food  as  some  have  supposed  for  the  seed-eating 

86 


The  Cedar-Bird  87 

Goldfinch,  whose  wants  are  well  supplied,  is  equally  dilatory  in 
its  nesting  habits.  The  young  Cedar-bird  gets  about  the  same 
kind  of  food  as  the  young  Robin  or  Oriole,  and  it  is  not  likely 
that  a  greater  or  less  amount  of  fruit  in  the  diet  of  old  or  young 
would  sensibly  alter  their  condition.  The  Goldfinch,  whose 
eggs  hatch  in  late  July  or  in  August,  feeds  its  young  on  the  seeds 
of  thistles,  but  this  does  not  prove  that  the  seeds  of  other  plants 
would  not  do  as  well,  or  that  young  Goldfinches,  if  hatched  in 
June,  would  starve.  Almost  equally  remarkable  is  the  early 
nesting  of  Crossbills  and  Ravens. 

So  quiet  and  retired  is  the  Cedar-bird,  it  may  live  in  com- 
parative seclusion  although  not  a  rod  from  your  house,. and  may 
remain  on  your  grounds  for  the  whole  summer  unnoticed,  unless 
some  one  is  on  the  watch,  so  that  the  name  "chatterer,"  for- 
merly applied  to  the  family,  can  have  only  an  ironical  signifi- 
cance in  this  least  garrulous  of  birds.  The  fondness  of  this  bird 
for  the  berries  of  the  red  cedar  and  for  cherries  is  responsible  for 
two  of  its  commonest  names,  while  the  term  "waxwing"  has 
reference  to  the  peculiar  horny  scales  of  the  secondary  wing- 
quills,  which  look  as  if  tipped  with  red  sealing-wax.  Less  com- 
monly, the  tail  also  bears  similar  appendages,  but  there  is  much 
variation  in  their  appearance  in  both  old  and  young.  Most  of 
the  birds  which  I  have  studied  at  the  nest  have  been  entirely 
lacking  in  appendages  of  this  kind.  In  some  cases  all  the 
nestlings  show  the  red  tips  at  about  the  eighth  or  tenth  day, 
or  at  the  moment  the  feather-tubes  of  the  secondaries  burst, 
while  more  frequently  only  one  or  two  in  the  nest  are  thus 
ornamented. 

Late  in  spring  the  Cedar-birds  are  seen  coursing  about  in 
small  squads,  selecting  some  treetop  for  an  observatory,  and 
always  showing  the  most  marked  uniformity,  there  being  little 
to  distinguish  the  sexes  in  either  size  or  color.  Their  plump 
oval  forms  and  easy  undulating  flight  are  characteristic,  and 
their  manner  of  flying  and  perching  in  compact  bodies  as  one 
bird  should  not  escape  the  observer.  Apple  trees  of  moderate 
size  are  in  high  favor,  since  they  afford  such  fine  opportunities  for 
nest-building,  and  are  usually  surrounded  by  good  feeding  grounds. 


88 


Wild  Birds 


When  they  do  not  come  to  orchards  and  the  neighborhood 
of  houses,  Waxwings  usually  frequent  scrubby  pastures,  selecting 


Fig.  50.  Female  Cedar-bird  prepared  to  regurgitate  food  from  the  gullet. 
Notice  the  outlines  of  the  neck,  which  mark  the  full  throat.  ' '  Twenty  min- 
utes later,  the  last  fledgling  had  left  the  nest."  August  25,  1899. 

the  witch-hazel  or  thorn-apple  bushes  by  preference,  and 
occasionally  a  small  sapling  oak  or  maple.  The  nest  is  either 
set  in  a  fork  or  saddled  to  a  spreading  branch,  at  a  height  of 


The  Cedar-Bird 


89 


from  five  to  twenty  feet.     It  is  nicely  wrought  from  vegetable 
and  animal  material  such  as  dead  grass,  roots,  fine  twigs,  weed- 


Fig.  51.  Cedar-bird  chorus  at  the  most  exciting  moment  just  before  food 
is  served,  August  6,  1899,  two  days  before  flight  and  the  development  of  the 
sense  of  fear.  First  picture  made  by  method  described  in  this  book.  Life- 
size. 

stems,  pine  needles,  wool,  yarn,  and  twine.  One  of  many  nests 
built  in  an  orchard  was  composed  of  dead  clover  stems,  witch 
grass,  with  thistle-down  and  the  fluffy  heads  of  the  Indian 


90  Wild  Birds 

tobacco,  a  plant  growing  close  by,  worked  over  its  rim  and 
interior. 

Four  or  five  eggs  are  ordinarily  laid,  but  the  total  product 
of  ten  nests  which  I  examined  in  1899  was  only  thirty-six  eggs, 
out  of  which  about  twenty-five  young  were  hatched  and  from 
sixteen  to  twenty  reared. 

The  parental  instincts  during  the  early  days  of  nest-building 
and  incubation  are  often  weak,  and  this  is  shown  to  a  marked 
degree  in  the  Cedar-bird,  which  is  easily  robbed  and  ever  ready 
to  take  fright  and  abandon  its  eggs. 

One  year,  in  July  a  pair  began  to  collect  nesting  material 
in  an  apple  tree  in  full  view  from  our  porch,  and  I  frequently 
watched  them  at  work  through  an  opera-glass,  and  once  or 
twice  passed  under  their  tree.  This  inspection  of  their  private 
affairs  pleased  them  so  little  that  they  left  their  completed  nest, 
and  moved  to  the  adjoining  field  a  few  rods  away,  where  there 
was  less  publicity,  and  where  five  eggs  hatched  out  on  the 
twenty-sixth  of  August.  A  nest  built  in  a  young  oak  tree  in  a 
remote  clearing  was  discovered  on  August  7th,  when  it  con- 
tained a  single  egg.  I  did  not  see  the  old  birds  on  this  occasion 
and  heard  but  a  faint  sound,  which  was  evidently  a  murmur 
of  remonstrance  since  their  nest  was  promptly  forsaken. 

I  have  camped  beside  five  different  nests  of  the  Cedar  Wax- 
wings,  and  after  having  spent  more  than  a  week  in  watching  the 
behavior  of  both  old  and  young  birds  at  short  range,  feel  that 
I  know  by  heart  most  of  their  nesting  habits. 

There  is  a  certain  routine  which  is  observed  by  all  birds  at 
the  nests.  Certain  duties  must  be  performed  over  and  over, 
such  as  the  capture  of  prey,  bringing  it  and  distributing  it  to  the 
young,  inspecting  and  cleaning  the  household,  besides  brood- 
ing or  shielding  the  young,  especially  during  the  early  days  of 
life  in  the  nest.  To  record  each  visit  made  and  every  recurring 
act  performed  by  the  birds  would  make  tedious  reading,  but 
strange  to  say  it  never  seems  monotonous  to  the  observer. 
As  the  young  birds  grow  older  and  begin  to  stand  on  the  rim 
of  the  nest  they  furnish  ample  excitement,  and  while  their  theme 
is  always  the  same  it  is  delivered  with  innumerable  variations. 


The  Cedar-Bird  91 

The  method  of  controlling  the  nesting  site  was  first  sug- 
gested by  some  Cedar-birds,  whose  nest  of  four  eggs  was  in  a 


Fig.  52.     Tantalizing  the  young.     The  mother  Cedar-bird  has  come  with  food, 
but  hesitates  to  advance  and  deliver  it.     Compare  with  Fig.  50. 

thorn-apple  bush,  and  about  seven  feet  from  the  ground.  The 
main  stem  supporting  the  nest  was  cut  off,  and  fixed  firmly  in 
the  soil  at  a  height  of  three  to  four  feet.  On  returning  to  the 
spot  two  days  later  I  was  pleased  to  find  that  all  had  gone  well. 


92  Wild  Birds 

After  getting  the  tent  up  it  was  not  many  minutes  before  a 
low-murmured  tr-e-e-e-e-k !  or  ze-e-e-e-t !  was  heard,  to  which 
the  young  always  responded  in  a  similar  strain.  Approaching 
cautiously,  with  throat  loaded  to  the  brim  with  choke-cherries, 
the  mother  bird  delivered  them  one  by  one,  and  then  inspected 
and  cleaned  her  household. 

After  a  longer  interval  the  pair  came  and  stood  on  the  edge 
of  the  nest.  There  was  nothing  in  their  bills,  but  their  gullets 
were  crammed  full  of  blueberries,  and  after  tantalizing  the 
supplicating  young  for  a  moment,  up  went  a  head,  and  presto! 
out  came  a  berry,  which  was  quickly  placed  in  an  open  throat, 
and  passed  around  until  it  was  promptly  swallowed.  Up  went 
the  head  again,  and  the  performance  was  repeated.  It  was  like 
a  magician  shaking  eggs  from  a  bag,  and  there  seemed  to  be 
no  limit  to  its  capacity.  Many  who  have  witnessed  such 
actions  have  supposed  that  the  old  birds  were  attempting  to 
distribute  the  food  without  partiality  to  their  hungry  children, 
but  this  is  not  the  case.  It  is  all  a  question  of  nervous  reaction. 
The  food  is  not  simply  placed  in  the  mouth,  but  pressed  well 
down  into  the  sensitive  throat,  which  promptly  responds  unless 
the  gullet  is  already  full.  The  old  bird  watches  the  result  in- 
tently, and  if  the  food  is  not  taken  at  once  it  is  passed  from  one 
to  another  until  a  throat  with  the  proper  reaction  time  is  found. 
The  movements  of  the  bird  are  so  rapid,  and  the  berry  is  so 
often  quickly  withdrawn,  that  it  is  difficult  to  make  an  ac- 
curate count.  Usually  from  six  to  eleven  blueberries  and  al- 
most as  many  choke-cherries  are  thus  carried  in  the  gullet. 
Wilson,  who  noticed  the  distensibility  of  the  gullet  of  this  bird, 
which  will  take  from  twelve  to  fifteen  cedar  berries  at  a  time, 
thought  that  it  served  as  a  crop  to  prepare  the  food  for  digestion. 
The  berries  and  insects,  it  is  true,  often  come  up  crushed  to  a 
pulp  and  reeking  with  slime,  but  it  is  not  likely  that  the  oesopha- 
gus serves  any  other  purpose  than  a  temporary  receptacle  for 
the  food. 

When  the  berries  had  gone  the  rounds,  both  birds  would 
suddenly  leave  the  nest  with  a  whisk.  Again  one  would  hear 
their  murmuring  call,  tr-e-e-e-e-k  !  growing  more  distinct  as  they 


The  Cedar-Bird  93 

came  nearer.  Then  both  would  alight  on  the  nest-rim,  and 
stand  there  a  moment  like  statuettes  with  heads  erect.  After 
regurgitating  the  food  and  distributing  it,  they  keenly  eye 
everything  in  the  nest,  snap  up  the  excreta  from  each  bird  in 
turn,  swallow  it,  and  are  off.  The  young  sat  or  stood  on  the 
nest  with  heads  up  and  all  pointed  one  way.  Presently,  every 
black  bead-like  eye  was  alert;  four  scarlet-orange  mouths 
opened  at  the  same  moment,  and  four  necks  were  stretched 
now  to  this  side,  now  to  that,  whence  came  the  least  sound. 
When  their  parents  actually  approached  with  their  low-whis- 
pered call,  they  would  huddle  together  and  stretch  their  legs, 
wings,  and  whole  bodies  to  the  utmost.  Then  would  arise  such 
a  chorus  of  supplicating  cries  as  no  parent  could  resist.  Touch 
but  a  twig  and  the  nest  presents  an  even  livelier  spectacle. 
The  young  fairly  tumble  over  each  other,  while  their  wings, 
heads,  and  bodies  vibrate  with  an  intensity  of  desire  which 
their  eager  voices  can  only  feebly  express.  Two  days  ago 
these  young  lay  quietly  in  their  nest,  and  when  touched  showed 
absolutely  no  fear,  but  to-day  the  instinct  of  fear  had  possessed 
them,  and  when  approached,  all  hopped  off  the  nest  and  hid  in 
the  grass. 

The  Cedar-bird  will  pant  with  mouth  agape  when  uncom- 
fortably warm,  but  is  never  seen  to  erect  the  feathers  generally, 
as  many  birds  do  in  order  to  keep  cool. 

While  watching  this  nest,  one  day  in  July,  I  happened  to  see 
a  Cedar-bird  tugging  at  the  frayed  ends  of  a  cord  which  had  been 
fastened  to  a  branch  of  one  of  the  fir  trees,  close  by  our  house. 
Taking  the  hint,  I  placed  a  quantity  of  red  and  blue  yarn  on 
the  branches,  and  on  some  bean  poles  near  the  nesting  site. 
Every  thread  was  taken  from  the  fir  and  worked  into  what 
became  a  very  gay  mansion.  It  was  placed  on  a  spreading 
apple  bough,  at  a  fork  in  the  limb  and  between  upright  shoots, 
fifteen  feet  from  the  ground.  The  blue  yarn  was  in  excess  of 
the  red,  but  I  am  sure  that  this  meant  nothing  to  the  birds. 
They  simply  took  what  was  provided,  and  had  all  been  red  it 
would  have  been  accepted. 

These  birds  were  most  expeditious,  for  in  two  days  the  last 


94 


Wild  Birds 


straw  was  in  place,  and  in  six  days  from  the  start  four  eggs  had 
been  laid  and  incubation  begun.  Ten  days  later  three  of  these 
eggs  had  hatched  into  young  birds,  while  one  was  addled. 
Born  blind,  naked,  and  helpless,  the  Cedar-bird  begins  to  see 
when  three  days  old,  through  narrow  horizontal  slits  which 


Fig.  53.     Female  Cedar-bird  ready  to  feed  young  by  regurgita- 
tion — gullet  stuffed  with  cherries. 

gradually  open,  and  expose  the  eyes  to  full  light.  When  this 
nest  was  touched,  the  young  would  raise  their  tremulous  heads 
aloft,  and  with  red  mouths  opened  wide,  express  in  silence  the 
simple  sign  language  of  newly  hatched  birds.  One  of  the 
brood  mysteriously  disappeared,  so  that  eventually  only  two 
were  raised,  and  this  recalls  the  loss  of  a  young  bird  from  the 
first  nest  which  was  built  by  the  same  pair.  When  evil  befalls 


The  Cedar-Bird 


95 


a  nestling,  the  parents  either  remove  its  body  or  abandon  the 
whole  family.  The  latter  course  is  seldom,  if  ever,  followed 
after  the  eggs  have  all  been  hatched. 

At  this  nest  the  young  gave  the  call-notes  repeatedly,  but 
the  old  birds  usually  approached  without  a  sound,  and  were 


Fig.  54-      After  feeding  the  young— the  gullet  empty.      Notice 
the  "  sitting  "  posture,  and  compare  curves  of  throat  in  Fig.  53. 

never  both  at  the  nest  at  the  same  time.  On  the  second  day  of 
observation  the  mother  bird  was  feeding  the  young  before  I  could 
set  up  the  tent.  Both  birds  came  frequently,  bringing  black 
cherries  and  grasshoppers.  At  each  feeding  the  following  order 
of  events  was  usually  observed :  the  parent  sounds  the  call-note 
at  a  distance,  to  which  the  young  reply,  but  observes  strict 


96 


Wild  Birds 


silence  in  drawing  near;  the  young  are  fed,  inspected,  and 
cleaned;  the  old  bird  flies  to  a  convenient  perch,  rubs  the  bill 
clean,  plumes,  and  speeds  off  to  the  nearest  cherry  trees. 

In  the  course  of  the  morning  these  fledglings  became  very 
restless,  and  as  the  heat  from  the  sun  increased,  one  crawled 


Fig.  55.    Regurgitating  food.     Up  goes  the  head,  and  presto  ! 
out  comes  a  berry. 

out,  sat  in  the  shadow  of  the  leaves,  and  finally  dropped  to  the 
grass.  Here  it  was  immediately  fed,  and  then  hopped  away 
surprisingly  fast.  The  male  enticed  it  along,  and  thereafter 
took  care  of  it,  while  the  mother  returned  to  her  remaining 
nestling.  Twenty  minutes  later  the  last  fledgling  had  left  the 
nest,  never  to  return,  and  the  curtain  was  immediately  rung 
down.  The  young  had  spent  exactly  two  weeks  in  their  tern- 


The  Cedar-Bird 


97 


porary  home,  and  had  the  weather  been  cooler  they  might  have 
tarried  at  least  two  days  longer. 

At  this  age  the  crest  is  not  very  prominent,  and  instead  of  the 
jet-black,  triangular  band  which  surrounds  the  eye  in  an  old 
bird,  the  flat  crown  of  the  head  is  encircled  by  a  light  band 


Fig.  56.     She  hears  a  suspicious  sound. 

passing  above  the  eye.  This  fillet  appears  at  about  the  eighth 
day,  and  at  this  age  also  the  tubes  of  the  wing-quills  burst,  and 
the  red  wax-like  tips  of  the  secondaries,  when  present  at  all, 
also  appear,  as  was  the  case  with  the  young  from  this  nest. 

When  about  ready  to  fly  and  waiting  to  be  fed  the  young 
exhibit  the  peculiar  instinct  already  noticed  of  standing  erect 
with  upturned  heads.  A  nest  of  these  birds  in  this  attitude 


98  Wild  Birds 

makes  a  curious  picture.  Any  danger  signal  is  now  likely  to 
bring  them  off  in  an  instant.  This  particular  brood  had  their 
abode  in  a  pine  tree  close  to  our  house.  On  July  iyth,  shortly 
before  the  picture  was  made,  the  family  of  five  was  standing 
bolt  upright,  all  facing  one  way,  as  if  under  military  discipline. 


Fig.  57.     Devouring  the  excreta  :   an  unusual  attitude. 

When  their  branch  was  touched,  all  but  the  two  shown  in  Fig. 
142  gained  the  nearest  trees  in  their  first  flight  and  escaped. 
This  pair  came  to  the  ground,  and  were  replaced  in  the  nest. 
In  their  second  attempt,  made  ten  minutes  later,  the  larger  of 
the  two  birds  was  more  successful.  It  flew  to  the  roof  of  the 
barn,  not  far  above  it,  and  after  hopping  to  the  ridge-pole, 
made  the  upper  branches  of  a  tall  elm.  In  the  larger  of  the 


The  Cedar-Bird 


99 


two  birds  the  band  of  velvety  feathers,  which  traverses  the  eye, 
and  is  jet  black  in  an  adult  bird,  had  begun  to  darken,  while 
the  fawn-colored  fillet  already  mentioned  was  perceptibly  re- 
duced, a  striking  and  characteristic  change  which  is  usually 
noticed  at  the  fourteenth  day.  Compare  Figs.  52  and  59. 


Fig.  58.     Cleaning  the  nest.     'When  the  young  are  fed,  the  duty  of 
the  old  bird  is  but  half  done. 

That  peculiar  attitude  of  the  young  just  described,  in  which 
they  stand  silent  and  motionless  on  their  nest  with  heads  up- 
raised, is  a  form  of  instinctive  behavior  which  in  the  adult 
may  be  considered  in  the  light  of  protective  mimicry.  We 
have  already  seen  how  the  timid  Cedar-bird,  when  surprised, 
will  throw  up  its  head  and  with  its  bill  pointing  to  the  zenith 
will  sit  immovable  like  a  statue,  in  this  way  simulating  a  short 


ioo  Wild  Birds 

upright  branch.  But  the  same  instinct  may  be  observed  at 
other  times  when  it  is  even  more  striking.  I  once  moved  a 
nest  of  a  pair  of  these  birds  and  mounted  it  in  front  of  a  porch, 
where  it  could  be  easily  seen  by  all  the  members  of  my  family. 
While  watching  the  feeding  operations  one  day  with  a  friend, 
we  walked  leisurely  towards  the  nest.  To  our  great  surprise 
the  old  bird  did  not  leave,  but  stood  bolt  upright  on  the  main 
branch,  and  with  head  up-turned  awaited  our  coming.  She 
maintained  this  extraordinary  attitude  while  we  stood  by  at 
a  distance  of  a  few  feet  and  admired  the  exhibition.  It  could 
not  be  denied  that  the  olive -gray,  rod-like  body  of  this  bird 
might  under  other  circumstances,  as  when  surrounded  bv 
foliage,  have  been  readily  mistaken  for  a  short  stub  or  a  trun- 
cated branch  of  the  tree. 

Another,  and  in  many  ways  the  most  interesting,  nest  was 
built  in  a  pine,  some  account  of  which  has  already  been  given, 
in  illustrating  the  change  of  the  nesting  site.  I  watched  these 
birds  over  ten  hours  from  the  tent,  saw  a  great  many  interesting 
sights,  and  made  a  long  series  of  pictures. 

The  young  at  this  nest  were  visited  and  fed  forty-seven  times 
during  an  interval  of  exactly  ten  hours  and  forty -seven  minutes, 
on  three  different  days.  On  the  last  day  they  were  fed  on  the 
average  once  in  ten  minutes.  The  food  consisted  of  choke -cher- 
ries and  red  bird-cherries,  varied  with  raspberries,  blackberries, 
and  blueberries,  together  with  insects  which,  during  the  last  days 
of  life  at  the  nest,  constituted  about  one  quarter  of  the  fare.  At 
one  half  the  number  of  visits  recorded,  fruit  alone  was  served. 
From  six  to  ten  cherries  were  brought  in  the  gullet  at  a  time, 
and  once  by  count  eleven  blueberries.  Feeding  was  effected 
almost  always  by  regurgitation  in  whole  or  part,  and  rarely 
was  any  food  visible  when  the  birds  came  to  the  nest.  Now 
and  then,  however,  a  bird  would  approach  loaded  to  the  muzzle, 
with  a  berry  or  insect  in  the  bill  to  round  out  the  measure. 
Soft  fruits  like  raspberries  were  crushed  to  a  pulp,  and  insects, 
which  are  commonly  served  with  the  berries,  came  up  covered 
with  saliva,  and  often  in  an  unrecognizable  state.  The  staple 
animal  food  was  grasshoppers,  and  I  have  seen  the  large  cicada 


The  Cedar-Bird 


101 


or  harvest-fly  brought  to  the  nest,  but  never  dragon-flies,  butter- 
flies, or  moths.  The  cicada  made  a  lively  struggle  for  a  few 
minutes ;  it  was  placed 
in  one  open  throat  af- 
ter another  and  with- 
drawn eight  different 
times,  before  a  gullet 
was  found  capable  of 
the  proper  reaction 
time.  If  a  bird  was 
slow  he  lost  his  chance, 
and  another  was  tried. 
The  key  was  at  last 
fitted  to  the  lock,  and 
the  bruised  and  bat- 
tered cicada  was  taken 
in,  but  the  old  bird  had 
not  finished  her  task. 
She  began  tossing  up 
her  head  and  producing 
bird-cherries.  Then 
she  gave  the  nest  a 
thorough  renovation. 
In  doing  this  the 
mother  often  walks 
around  the  rim,  and 
attends  to  each  nest- 
ling in  succession, 
sometimes  even  in- 
specting one  bird  more 
than  once. 

At  first  I  found  it 
difficult  to  tell  the  old 
birds  apart  until  I 

noticed  a  distinguishing  mark  on  the  female,  who  had  a  little  bare 
spot  where  the  feathers  had  come  out,  on  the  right  side  in  front 
of  the  wing.  This  shows  plainly  in  many  of  the  photographs. 


Fig.  59-  Young  Cedar-bird  from  nest  shown  in 
Figs.  53-58:  photographed  on  the  morning  of  flight, 
July  19,  1900.  The  bird  was  not  touched,  but  occu- 
pies a  natural  perch,  chosen  by  himself. 


102  Wild  Birds 

As  I  have  said  in  another  place,  the  female  would  often  fly 
direct  to  the  tent  and  alight  on  the  end  of  the  ridge-pole  just 
above  the  nest.  Here  she  would  pause  a  moment,  then  go  to 
her  young.  Should  they  fail  to  respond  promptly,  she  gives 
a  peculiar  clucking  sound,  a  habit  common  to  many  species, 
which  is  the  stimulus  applied  as  a  last  resort.  At  this  signal 
every  mouth  is  opened  wide,  even  if  the  gullet  is  already  full. 
Indigestible  substances  pass  through  the  alimentary  canal,  and 
are  never  regurgitated  in  either  young  or  adults. 

Cedar  Waxwings  have  been  seen  in  the  act  of  sipping  maple 
sap  in  March,  either  standing  near  a  broken  twig  and  reaching 
round  to  pick  off  the  drops  from  the  underside  or  hovering  over 
the  spot  and  taking  sips  while  on  the  wing.1 

Towards  the  last  of  August,  small  flocks  of  Cedar-birds  are 
moving  about  in  search  of  food,  the  low  murmur  of  their  call- 
notes  being  audible  for  a  moment  only  as  they  pass  overhead. 
They  know  when  the  wild  cherries  are  ripe,  and  never  fail  to 
visit  the  trees  skirting  the  fields.  The  black  cherry  tree  is  most 
attractive  when  laden  with  the  pendent  racemes  of  black 
cherries,  its  tremulous  foliage  shining  in  the  sun,  with  Robins 
and  Cedar-birds  fluttering  about  it.  Every  good  tree  is  an 
aviary  when  its  fruit  is  ripe  in  late  summer  and  early  autumn. 
Both  old  and  young  are  on  hand.  Then  you  may  see  one  sidle 
along  a  bough,  stretch  its  neck,  wag  its  tail,  and  fondle  another 
with  its  bill.  Their  fine  breezy  call-notes  suggest  the  bleating 
of  the  insects  in  the  grass  below.  Tent  caterpillars  spin  large 
nests  in  these  trees,  but  the  birds  prefer  the  acid-bitter  fruit  to 
the  insects.  Occasionally  a  bird  will  leave  its  perch,  and  dive 
for  an  insect  in  the  air  with  the  ease  and  precision  of  a  pro- 
fessional flycatcher.  I  have  seen  the  Cedar-bird  either  taking 
the  spider  from  his  web  or  possibly  robbing  him  of  his  prey. 
The  birds  peck  at  the  cherries,  pull  them  off,  suck  up  the  juicy 
pulp,  but  drop  the  hard  stone.  The  ground  under  the  trees, 
as  well  as  beneath  their  favorite  perches,  is  covered  with  cherry 
stones.  Suddenly  there  is  a  swirl  of  wings,  and  the  band  moves 
off  rapidly  to  try  the  fruit  in  some  other  -quarter. 
1  For  this  note  I  am  indebted  to  Mr.  Robert  J.  Sim,  of  Jefferson,  Ohio. 


CHAPTER  VI 

VIREOS  AWAKE  AND  ASLEEP 

THE  moment  I  touched  the  spreading  branch  of  a  witch- 
hazel  bush  out  flew  a  bird,  and  the  next  instant  my  eye 
rested  on  the  nest  of  a  Red-eyed  Vireo.  It  was  suspended  be- 
tween the  forks  of  a  twig  about  six  feet  from  the  ground,  and 
was  well  protected  and  concealed  by  the  leaves.  It  then  con- 
tained two  young  birds,  four  or  five  days  old.  After  examining 
it  carefully  I  retired,  but  before  doing  so  fixed  a  cord  to  the 
branch  and  drew  down  the  nest  so  that  its  brim  was  horizontal, 
and  the  whole  about  four  feet  from  the  ground,  a  convenient 
height  for  future  study. 

The  young  were  quite  naked,  save  for  a  sprinkling  of  light 
down  on  their  heads  and  backs.  They  had  yellow-rimmed 
bills,  bright  yellow  throats,  and  were  just  beginning  to  see 
through  the  narrow  slits,  which  admit  light  gradually  to  the 
eyes.  The  old  birds  betrayed  no  unusual  anxiety,  but  uttered 
their  unobtrusive  piort!  piort!  and  the  female  soon  approached 
with  an  insect.  This  nest  was  surrounded  by  tall  bushes  with 
barely  space  to  pitch  the  tent  in  front  of  it,  and  as  I  decided  to 
make  no  further  changes,  a  spotted  leafy  background  was  un- 
avoidable in  the  pictures.  Coming  again  on  July  3ist,  the 
tent  was  soon  in  place.  The  female,  who  was  brooding  at  the 
time,  flew  off  quickly,  but  returned  in  a  few  moments. 

These  Vireos  soon  became  quite  unaware  of  being  observed, 
although  literally  as  near  the  eye  as  one  would  hold  a  book  to 
read.  I  spent  parts  of  three  days  on  this  spot  watching  a  most 
fascinating  panorama  of  bird -life.  On  the  third  day  the  tent 
was  moved  up  to  within  eighteen  inches  of  the  nest,  but  ex- 
perience has  amply  proved  that  the  best  pictures  of  the  nesting 


104  Wild  Birds 

scenes,  in  which  the  objects  are  usually  in  rapid  motion,  cannot 
be  obtained  at  such  close  range. 

On  the  first  day  it  required  forty  minutes  to  restore  perfect 
confidence,  before  the  affairs  of  the  nest  were  conducted  with 
their  usual  regularity.  The  young  raised  their  heads  aloft  and 
called  loudly  for  attention,  or  hung  drowsily  over  the  brim  of  the 
nest.  At  this  time  their  skin  was  dotted  with  the  fine  rapidly 
growing  feathers,  and  the  wing-quills  looked  like  slender  paint 
brushes,  having  just  burst  the  tips  of  the  cylindrical  horny 
tubes  in  which  they  grow. 

The  old  birds  examined  the  situation  carefully.  Their 
mournful  piort !  piort !  was  heard  again  and  again,  the  male 
answering  his  mate  as  she  deliberately  approached  the  nest. 
After  advancing  many  times,  and  turning  back  as  often  through 
fear  or  distrust,  the  mother  hopped  up  briskly  with  a  bee  in  her 
beak.  Her  instinct  to  care  for  her  young  was  stronger  than  the 
male's,  and  she  almost  invariably  approached  in  the  same  way, 
by  the  path  of  the  twig  in  the  fork  of  which  hung  the  nest.  A 
smaller  division  in  the  fork  gave  off  a  still  smaller  branch  close 
to  the  nest,  and  upon  this  the  birds  always  perched,  and  thus 
stood  directly  over  their  brood.  Any  vibration  of  the  nest,  as 
when  the  feet  of  the  old  bird  touched  the  main  stem  to  which 
it  was  fixed,  or  any  sound  above  or  below,  electrified  the  young, 
and  up  popped  their  heads  like  two  jacks  in  a  box.  With 
mouths  wide  agape,  they  would  clamor  and  quaver,  expressing 
their  emotions  not  only  by  the  vibration  of  the  wings  but  by 
the  shaking  of  the  whole  body.  But  the  young  at  this  tender 
age  are  unable  to  discriminate  with  any  exactness.  The  quiver- 
ing of  a  leaf,  or  the  stirring  of  a  twig  close  at  hand,  a  puff  of  wind, 
the  nutter  of  a  wing  or  the  voice  of  any  passing  bird  would 
throw  them  into  the  same  state  of  excitement.  But  this  was 
only  for  a  moment.  Their  heads  would  again  drop  listlessly 
over  the  wall  of  the  nest,  and  with  open  mouths  they  would 
doze  in  the  sunshine.  Something  would  then  suddenly  arouse 
them,  when  they  would  instinctively  go  to  preening  themselves 
just  like  old  birds,  although  they  had  at  this  time  no  feathers 
which  needed  this  attention. 


Vireos  Awake  and  Asleep 


105 


Quite  often  you  would  hear  a  huic!  huic!  which  always  aroused 
the  young, who  would  tsip!  back  in  earnest.  While  the  mother  was 
again  coming  slowly  towards  the  nest  with  a  bee  in  her  mouth, 
another  bee  happened  to  cross  her  path.  She  darted  after  it, 
but  missed  her  aim.  Then,  disposing  of  the  first  insect,  she 


showing  the  depth  to  which  food  is  inserted  in  the  throat.     Photographed  from  an  ele- 
vated tent  with  white  screen  at  back,— illustrated  in  Fig.  42. 


watched  her  young  intently  for  a  moment,  stooped,  picked  up 
a  small  white  package,  and  hurried  away. 

At  one  o'clock  the  old  birds  took  a  midday  rest,  and  it  was 
full  twenty  minutes  before  that  reassuring  piort!  piort!  was 
heard.  Then  as,  step  by  step,  the  mother  came  nearer  the 
magnet,  the  drawing  power  of  which  was  irresistible,  her  livelier 
huic!  huic!  awoke  the  young,  who  started  and  replied  swit! 
swit!  Thereupon  the  old  bird  quickly  hopped  along  the  branch, 
straddled  the  fork,  and  tucked  a  large  grasshopper  into  one  o" 


io6 


Wild  Birds 


the  open  mouths.  In  three  minutes  she  was  back  with  another, 
this  time  stopping  to  clean  the  nest  again.  Five  minutes  by  the 
watch  had  passed  when  she  returned  with  a  brown-gray-winged 
insect  over  an  inch  long,  which  an  entomologist  might  be  able 
to  name  from  the  photograph.  She  paused  for  a  moment  while 
the  young  called  eagerly  and  stretched  their  necks  to  the  ut- 
most; then  she  helped  the  insect  down  the  throat  of  the  lucky 
bird.  However,  it  stuck  at  the  gullet,  and  the  little  one  gulped 
hard  before  its  protruding  wings  had  disappeared. 


Fig.  61.     Female  Red-eyed  Vireo  ready  to  deliver  a  large  insect.      Photo- 
graphed against  natural  background.      Compare  Fig.  60. 

As  is  well  known,  the  young  bird  has  wonderful  powers  of 
digestion  and  assimilation,  and  after  the  first  week  the  rapidity 
of  its  development  becomes  even  more  striking.  A  lapse  of 
twenty-four  hours  now  means  a  great  stride  in  growth.  It 
takes  food  almost  constantly  throughout  the  day,  and  digests 
it  quickly,  though  imperfectly.  The  adult  Vireo,  like  the  Fly- 
catcher, is  known  to  regurgitate  the  indigestible  parts  of  its  food 
in  pellets. 

The  male  Vireo  seldom  came  with  food,  and  then  always  with 
an  extra  degree  of  caution.  Twice  he  followed  swiftly  after  his 


Vireos  Awake  and  Asleep  107 

mate,  acting  as  her  guardian  while  she  quickly  went  the  rounds. 
The  role  of  the  old  birds  in  feeding  was  almost  invariably  the 
same,  as  I  have  in  part  described.  They  trace  a  zigzag  line  to 
the  nest,  a  straight  one  from  it.  '  You  hear  first  their  responsive 
call-notes.  The  mother  "bird  with  insect  ready  is  in  a  bush  a 
rod  away;  then  she  comes  a  step  nearer,  and  pauses;  her  piortf 
is  now  more  -distinct.  She  slowly  advances,  until  the  twig 
which  holds  the  nest  is  touched.  Up  go  the  heads  of  the  young; 
they  call  aloud,  stretch  their  necks  to  every  side,  gaze  up  to  the 


Fig.  62.     Placing  it  well  down  in  a  hungry  throat. 

clouds  and  around  upon  the  leaves.  Then,  as  the  mother  hops 
nimbly  along  the  twig,  and  stands  over  them,  what  a  picture  of 
eager  desire,  tremulous  impatience,  and  keen  rivalry  they 
present!  The  food  is  sometimes  quickly  placed  in  the  throat 
of  one,  and  as  quickly  withdrawn,  to  be  given  to  another,  and 
when  there  are  more  than  two  it  may  go  the  rounds  before  it  is 
allowed  to  remain,  a  common  practice  the  true  meaning  of 
which  we  have  already  seen. 

After  inspection  is  completed  and  the  nest  cleaned,  the 
parent  bird  flies  to  any  convenient  spot,  carefully  wipes  the 
slime  from  her  bill,  stretches  her  wings,  and  smoothes  out  all 


io8  Wild  Birds 

the  ruffles  in  her  dress.  These  birds  always  look  as  sleek  as  a 
new  silk  hat,  every  feather  lying  smooth  in  its  place. 

One  day  while  in  my  tent,  a  small  bird  of  another  species 
suddenly  darted  down  upon  this  nest.  There  was  a  momentary 
flutter,  a  clash  of  beaks  and  claws,  and  the  intruder  was  promptly 
driven  away. 

It  was  always  interesting  to  watch  the  behavior  of  the 
young  between  the  intervals  of  feeding.  The  moisture  would 
fairly  glisten  in  their  wide-open  mouths.  They  snapped  at 
every  ant  and  flying  insect  which  came  within  their  reach,  but 


Fig,  63.     Standing  in  characteristic  prone  attitude  of  inspection. 

I  never  saw  a  single  capture.  The  preying  instinct  is  undoubt- 
edly one  of  the  most  ancient  among  animals,  and  young  birds 
peck  instinctively  at  all  kinds  of  small  objects,  but  precision 
of  aim  which  leads  to  success  in  capturing  their  prey  must  be 
acquired  by  practice.  These  young  Vireos  would  often  hang 
their  heads  down  over  the  nest,  and  doze  until  aroused  by  the 
piping  of  the  Robin,  or  by  the  call  of  some  other  bird.  Then 
the  mother  would  appear,  with  a  huge  green  katydid,  its  wings 
crumpled  and  held  tightly  in  her  sharp  bill.  It  was  surpris- 
ing how  quickly  and  gently  it  was  assisted  down  one  of  the 
hungry  throats. 

At  one  of  his  visits,  the  male,  after  cleaning  the  nest  and 


Vireos  Awake  and  Asleep  109 

young  with  great  care,  stepped  in  and  began  to  brood,  when 
two  downy  heads  popped  up  from  under  his  breast.  He 
showed  unmistakable  signs  of  discomfort  and  uneasiness, 
repeatedly  erecting  and  lowering  his  crest,  and  puffing  out  his 
throat.  With  mouth  wide  open  he  gazed  keenly  about  him, 
and  after  a  few  moments  dashed  off  as  if  in  pursuit  of  an  enemy. 
When  a  large  grasshopper  which  had  been  given  to  a  young 
bird  had  made  good  its  escape,  the  mother  darted  after  it, 
seized  it  before  it  had  touched  the  ground,  and  you  may  be 
sure  that  there  was  no  possibility  of  escape  this  time.  A 
grasshopper  was  sometimes  divided  between  the  two  young,  but 


Fig.  64.     Drawing  back  through  timidity. 

usually  a  single  bird  only  was  fed  at  a  time.  The  male  warbled 
his  pleasant  strains  from  a  branch  hard  by,  while  the  mother 
hunted  for  insects  in  the  grass  below.  A  large  brown  locust 
with  yellow  and  black  wings  was  soon  brought  in.  The  adult 
Vireos  glean  most  of  their  animal  food  from  the  foliage  and,  as 
might  be  expected,  are  great  caterpillar  destroyers,  but  while 
feeding  their  young  I  frequently  saw  them  exploring  the  grass 
as  any  Robin  or  Song  Sparrow  might  do,  snapping  up  every 
insect  which  came  in  their  path. 


no  Wild  Birds 

On  the  third  day,  when  my  tent  was  but  eighteen  inches  from 
the  nest,  the  old  birds  came  to  it  even  more  readily  than  before. 
They  would  still  occasionally  start  at  the  click  of  the  shutter, 
but  they  did  not  mind  the  shrill  scream  of  a  locomotive  across 
the  river,  or  the  rumble  and  splash  of  logs  which  were  momen- 
tarily being  set  free  and  sent  tumbling  headlong  down  a  steep 
slide  into  the  river  below.  They  had  become  used  to  these 
sounds  and  had  learned  from  experience  that  they  were  harm- 
less. On  this  day,  a  great  change  seemed  to  have  come  over  the 
young.  They  had  become  almost  transformed  in  appearance, 
and  were  very  restless.  Their  bodies  were  now  well  covered 
with  feathers,  and  they  were  beginning  to  show  the  first  traces 
of  fear.  Their  snow-white  breasts  gleamed  through  the  thin 
walls  of  their  cup-shaped  nest,  or  from  over  its  rim.  Grass- 
hoppers, katydids,  green  larvae,  beetles,  and  bugs  of  many 
kinds  were  served  again  and  again,  but  it  would  be  a  mistake 
to  suppose  that  there  was  no  fruit  to  vary  this  diet.  Upon  the 
third  day  the  mother  brought  a  ripe  red  raspberry,  its  juice 
fairly  streaming  down  her  bill,  and  after  a  few  beetles  had  been 
taken  she  appeared  with  a  large  blackberry.  Fruit  was  served 
to  the  young  about  half  a  dozen  times  in  the  course  of  four 
hours  during  which  watch  was  kept  on  this  particular  day,  but  I 
had  not  seen  a  single  berry  brought  to  the  young  before  this  time. 

On  the  first  two  days  of  observation  the  young  were  fed  on 
the  average  of  once  in  fifteen  minutes,  but  upon  the  third  day 
food  was  brought  every  nine  minutes. 

Hitherto  I  had  taken  pains  not  to  touch  the  nest,  but  as  I 
approached  for  a  final  look  at  the  young  at  about  two  o'clock 
they  immediately  took  alarm,  and  popped  out  one  at  a  time. 
The  larger  of  the  two  disappeared,  and  was  never  seen  again  by 
me,  and  although  I  replaced  the  smaller  bird  in  its  nest  time 
after  time,  it  positively  refused  to  stay.  Like  the  young  of  so 
many  wild  birds,  when  once  they  have  tasted  the  freedom  of 
the  world  they  seem  to  look  with  disdain  upon  their  old  home. 
Although  these  birds  could  only  flutter  in  their  first  attempts  at 
flight,  they  could  hop  nimbly  from  branch  to  branch,  and  thus 
ascend  readily  to  the  tops  of  high  bushes. 


Vireos  Awake  and  Asleep 


i  n 


Upon  visiting  the  site  of  this  nest  on  the  following  day,  one 
of  the  young  birds  was  discovered  in  the  grass  less  than  two 
rods  from  its  empty  nest.  It  was  calling  loudly  for  food,  and 
the  old  birds  were  tending  it.  A  few  hours  later  I  returned  in 
the  nick  of  time  to  save  its  life  by  the  capture  of  a  large  garter 
snake,  which  in  some  way  had  discovered  its  opportunity. 


Fig.  65.     Young  Red-eyed  Vireos,  shown  in  Fig.  64,  leaving  the  nest.     No. 
14  of  table,  Chapter  I. 

Another  Red-eyed  Vireo's  nest  was  detected  by  the  sharp 
eyes  of  a  little  girl  beside  our  house,  and  close  to  a  well-trodden 
path.  It  was  suspended  to  a  forked  twig  of  the  sugar  maple, 
and  in  order  to  disturb  it  as  little  as  possible  the  tent  was 
mounted  on  a  raised  platform  five  feet  from  the  ground,  while 
a  tall  photographic  screen  was  erected  at  the  back  (Fig.  42). 

When  the  young  Vireos  were  a  week  old  I  began  to  watch 
their  nesting  habits  at  night  more  closely,  and  found  that, 
while  the  male  apparently  roosted  near  by,  the  female  invariably 


112 


Wild  Birds 


slept  on  the  nest.  At  from  fifteen  to  twenty  minutes  after 
sundown  she  was  regularly  at  her  post,  and  even  at  this  hour 
usually  fast  asleep.  So  profound,  indeed,  were  her  slumbers, 
that  I  could  often  enclose  her  in  my  hand  and  stroke  her  feathers 
without  awaking  her.  She  slept  with  her  head  twisted  back 
and  buried  deep  in  the  feathers  between  the  shoulders.  An 
apparently  headless  trunk  or  a  little  ball  of  feathers  was  all  that 
could  be  seen,  and  the  only  motion  discernible  came  from  the 
regular  pulsations  of  breathing. 

In  this  manner  the  mother  apparently  passed  the  night, 
unless  disturbed.  When  aroused  by  a  ruder  movement  of  the 
hand,  she  would  peck  feebly  at  a  raised  finger,  but  if  not  molested 
the  eyes  would  gradually  close,  and  the  heavy  head  turning 
slowly  on  its  axis  settle  down  on  the  soft  cushion  again.  If 
actually  driven  off  she  would  return  in  a  second,  and  in  another 
moment  would  be  fast  asleep. 

On  a  quiet  evening,  just  after  sundown,  the  camera  was  set 
on  the  platform,  and  two  photographs  were  made  of  this  sleep- 
ing bird  without  awaking  her.  In  the  first  the  plate  was  ex- 
posed for  five  and  in  the  second  for  twenty  minutes  (Fig.  66), 
both  yielding  good  prints,  allowing  for  the  regular  movements 
of  respiration. 

The  sleeping  habits  of  birds  do  not  appear  to  have  received 
much  attention,  and  are  often  difficult  to  observe.  That  they 
vary  not  only  in  different  species  but  with  the  season  and  other 
conditions  is  obvious.  When  not  breeding,  many  of  the  smaller 
perching  birds  seek  the  dense  coverts  or  foliage,  which  afford 
protection  from  cold  as  well  as  from  enemies.  Grouse  .are 
sometimes  found  enclosed  in  light  snow;  Quail  hover  in  dense 
covies  on  the  ground,  where  they  pass  the  night;  birds  of  prey, 
like  Hawks  and  Eagles,  sleep  at  odd  intervals  by  day  or  night, 
with  the  head  buried  in  the  feathers  of  the  back.  The  diurnal 
sleep  of  Owls  and  Goatsuckers  is  more  readily  observed.  The 
male  Robin  has  been  known  to  pass  the  night  at  a  long  distance 
from  its  nest.  In  a  community  of  Great  Herring  Gulls,  which 
knows  no  repose  by  day  or  night,  the  old  birds  take  frequent 
naps  at  all  hours,  and  either  while  on  the  perch  or  the  nest. 


Vireos  Awake  and  Asleep  113 

This  Gull  will  occasionally  doze  with  head  drawn  in  and  eyes 
closed,  but  usually  conceals  its  head  in  its  feathers  like  a  Hawk 
or  Vireo.  But  if  at  such  times  the  Gull  is  dull  of  sight  its 
hearing  is  keen,  for  at  an  alarm  it  will  suddenly  throw  up  its 
head  and  with  outstretched  neck  scream  loud  enough  to  be 


Fig.  66.  Female  Red-eyed  Vireo,  asleep  on  nest.  Pho- 
tographed after  sundown,  with  an  exposure  of  twenty  min- 
utes, July  5,  1902,  7  :  10—7  : 30  P.  M.  The  head  of  the  bird 
is  twisted  to  the  left  side— the  bill  pointing  to  the  right  of 
the  picture — and  is  buried  up  to  the  eyes  in  the  feathers  of 
the  back. 

heard  for  half  a  mile.  Some  of  the  Pheasants  sleep  with  the 
head  either  drawn  in  on  shortened  neck,  or  turned  back  and 
concealed.  In  calm  seas  Duck  and  other  water-fowl  often  sleep 
when  afloat.  So  far  as  I  have  observed,  the  same  bird  always 
turns  its  head  to  the  same  side  in  sleep,  and  this  seems  to  follow 
as  a  matter  of  course  from  the  force  of  habit. 


ii4  Wild  Birds 

The  snow  and  storms  of  winter  usually  knock  the  bottom 
out  of  the  Vireos'  pendent  nests,  but  some  remain  whole  for  over 
a  year.  Wilson  speaks  of  finding  the  nest  of  the  Yellow  Warbler 
built  inside  of  an  old  Vireo's  nest.  The  deer  mouse  sometimes 
takes  possession  of  an  abandoned  nest  in  fall,  and  converts  it 
into  a  snug  globular  house  for  itself  and  young.  I  remember 
the  feeling  of  astonishment  which  the  discovery  of  one  of  these 
converted  nests  gave  me  when  a  boy  at  school,  and  of  wondering 
to  what  animal  those  black  lustrous  eyes,  which  appeared  at 
the  entrance,  could  belong.  In  this  case  the  original  frame- 
work was  concealed  by  a  symmetrical  dome  of  thistle-down,  a 
substance  used  also  in  lining  and  covering  the  original  walls. 
There  was  a  small  round  hole  or  side  entrance,  just  above  the 
old  rim.  When  disturbed,  this  sleek  little  mouse  left  its  warm 
house,  ran  down  the  branch,  and  disappeared. 


CHAPTER  VII 


THE  NEST-HOLE  OF  THE  BLUEBIRD 

THE  mellow  note  of  the  Bluebird  is  a  welcome  sound  on 
March  mornings  when  the  air  is  yet  wintry,  and  the  snow 
stands  deep  in  the  woods.  Its  meaning  is  unmistakable,  but 
to  appreciate  it,  one  must  live  in  the  North  where  spring  means 
literally  "turning  over 
a  new  leaf. ' '  a  new  order 
of  existence.  Should 
cold  weather  or  heavy 
snows  return,  the  birds 
retire  for  a  time,  but 
promptly  reappear 
with  better  days. 

The  males  are  first 
to  arrive,  coming  singly 
or  in  small  straggling 
companies.  As  we 
walk  along  the  desolate 
country  roads,  they 
rise  from  wall  and 
fence-row,  displaying 
their  brilliant  azure 
wings,  or  when  flying 
overhead  the  cinnamon 

brown  and  white  of  their  under  plumage.  Their  almost  ven- 
triloquial  phee-ur  note  which  is  heard  as  they  fly  is  not  peculiar 
to  any  season. 

When  the  females  come  a  little  later,  the  males  are  in  full 
"5 


Fig.  67.    Female  Bluebird  taking  a  look  outside, 
as  if  hesitating  before  going  in  search  of  food. 


1 16  Wild  Birds 

song,  and  the  period  of  courtship,  which  is  very  ardent  in  the 
Bluebird,  begins.  The  affection  and  gallantry  of  the  Bluebird 
have  aroused  the  enthusiasm  of  many  observers.  Unfortu- 
nately, we  are  obliged  to  add  that  a  case  of  polygamy  in  this 
species  has  been  reported.1 

The  choice  of  a  nesting  site  is  made  with  great  care  and  de- 
liberation. If  they  accept  the  house  or  box  prepared  for  them, 
they  often  have  to  defend  it  against  the  Wren,  the  Martin,  and 
the  House  Sparrow.  Wrens  and  Martins  are  easily  driven  off, 
but  the  pugnacity  of  the  Sparrow  and  the  greater  numbers 
which  he  can  usually  muster  render  resistance  hopeless.  An 
abandoned  Woodpecker's  hole  is  not  disdained,  since  it  forms 
a  safe,  cozy  house  which  needs  little  furnishing.  This  snug 
cavern  is  sheltered  from  sun  and  rain,  and  secure  from  most 
birds  and  beasts  of  prey.  The  rotten  fence-post  and  the  many 
holes  in  the  decayed  apple  trees  may  also  contain  the  secret  of 
the  Bluebird's  nest. 

On  August  n,  1899,  I  saw  a  pair  of  Bluebirds  paying 
marked  attentions  to  an  old  "auger-hole"  in  an  apple  tree,  made 
by  Golden-winged  Woodpeckers.  It  was  plainly  a  case  of  nest 
within  nest.  The  female  was  carrying  insects  to  her  invisible 
young,  which  I  supposed  at  this  late  day  were  ready  to  fly,  but, 
as  it  afterwards  appeared,  they  were  only  five  days  old.  This 
hole  had  been  nicely  drilled  beneath  the  springing  branch  of 
a  truncated  and  now  dead  prong  of  the  tree,  fifteen  feet  from 
the  ground. 

When  an  opportunity  was  offered  on  August  isth,  I  sawed 
off  the  limb,  two  feet  from  the  opening,  and  set  it  up  in  a  con- 
venient spot  fifty  feet  away.  It  was  so  arranged  that  the  whole 
trunk  could  be  rotated,  and  the  circular  entrance  of  this  nest 
turned  directly  to  the  sun  at  any  time  of  day.  I  had  barely 
left  the  place  to  fetch  the  tent  when  the  mother  bird  flew  from 
the  apple  tree  to  the  stump,  entered  the  hole,  and  having  fed 
the  young,  came  out  with  a  small  white  parcel  in  her  bill.  This 
bird  had  her  eye  on  the  nest,  and  was  ready  to  visit  it  in  its  new 
situation,  when  free  to  do  so.  The  tent  was  placed  two  feet 
1  Bulletin  Nuttall  Ornithological  Club,  vol.  viii.,  p.  63. 


The  Nest-Hole  of  the  Bluebird 


117 


away,  but  later  drawn  up  to  a  distance  of  about  eighteen  inches. 
After  concluding  these  operations,  I  had  to  wait  longer  for  the 
parent  bird  to  come  again.  When  one  considers  that  the  nest- 


Fig.  68.     Female  Bluebird  carrying  grasshopper  to  young. 

ing  branch  was  suddenly  moved  fifty  feet  from  its  original 
position  and  fixed  on  the  ground,  and  that  a  tent  was  then 
pitched  so  close  to  it  that  the  birds  could  not  fly  straight  to  the 
entrance  but  had  to  flit  first  to  the  trunk  and  then  go  around 


ii8  Wild  Birds 

to  the  hole,  it  is  not  surprising  that  they  held  aloof.  I  waited 
exactly  one  hour  and  twenty-five  minutes  before  the  mother 
again  brought  food  to  her  young.  Meanwhile  it  was  interesting 
to  see  what  was  happening,  from  a  peep-hole  of  the  tent.  Both 
birds  would  fly  to  the  tree  which  they  had  known  as  their  home, 
and  mechanically  go  through  their  usual  motions  in  approach- 
ing the  nest,  hopping  first  to  this  branch,  then  to  that,  following 
a  well-defined  path,  which  they  had  traveled  hundreds  of  times, 
and  finally  hover  over  the  spot  which  was  once  occupied  by  the 
nest,  as  if  to  become  assured  that  their  eyes  had  not  deceived 
them. 

These  actions,  which  afford  an  excellent  illustration  of  the 
force  of  habit,  were  repeated  by  both  Bluebirds  many  times, 
while  they  uttered  their  responsive  phee-ur  note.  Again,  calling 
eagerly,  both  would  fly  towards  the  new  position  of  the  nest. 
Finally,  the  female,  who  in  this  case  assumed  the  whole  task  of 
feeding  the  brood,  came  to  the  stump,  paused  a  moment, 
quickly  entered  the  hole,  and  came  out  in  hot  haste.  The 
absolute  stillness,  however,  had  restored  confidence,  for  in 
five  minutes  she  returned  with  a  huge  green  grasshopper  and 
in  ten  minutes  was  back  again  with  another.  In  the  course  of 
each  visit  the  plaintive  call  would  announce  her  presence  as  she 
approached  with  insect  in  bill,  and  alighted  on  a  half -dead 
peach  tree  close  by.  After  a  momentary  survey  of  the  situation 
she  would  flit  to  the  stump,  sit  for  a  few  seconds  on  a  dead 
branch  at  one  side,  then  hop  down,  fly  to  the  hole,  and  catch  on 
the  bark  or  cling  to  the  rough  edge  of  the  circular  opening  with 
her  sharp  claws,  pausing  there  a  tenth  of  a  second,  or  long 
enough  to  cast  a  swift  glance  backwards.  In  this  position  she 
was  photographed  many  times,  with  grasshoppers,  crickets, 
green  larvae,  katydids,  and  once  with  a  large  robber  fly  in  her 
beak,  the  profile  of  her  head  being  sharply  vignetted  by  the  dark 
circular  entrance.  The  young  must  have  been  all  a-quaver  at 
the  sound  of  their  mother's  wings,  for  the  old  stump  seemed  to 
become  suddenly  alive  with  brisk  chirping  sounds  the  moment 
she  touched  any  part  of  it.  The  bird  used  her  tail  to  help  sup- 
port her  weight  against  the  side  of  the  tree,  like  a  Woodpecker, 


The  Nest-Hole  of  the  Bluebird 


119 


and  I   noticed   that   the   tail   feathers  were   frayed  and  worn 
at  the  points. 

The  male  during  the 
numerous  visits  which 
followed  came  two  or 
three  times  and  sat 
above  the  door,  but 
never  actually  entered 
it,  and  never  brought 
to  the  young  a  single 
morsel  of  food  in  the 
course  of  the  entire  day. 
He  would  warble  very 
sweetly,  however,  and 
probably  encouraged 
the  exertions  of  his 
mate.  The  next  time 
this  bird  appeared  with 
a  grasshopper  she  did 
not  trust  herself  inside, 
but  stood  at  the  en- 
trance, put  her  head  in 
and  as  quickly  drew 
back  to  take  another 
glance  around,  then 
leaned  far  down  and  fed 
her  clamoring  brood.  At 
this  moment  a  flock  of 
Goldfinches  flew  over- 
head, and  were  heard 
calling  be-be  !  be-be !  at 
which  the  young  Blue- 
birds were  instantly 
aroused,  and  made  the 
old  stump  resound  again 

With    their    cries.       After  FiZ-  6^1-     Bluebi«'d   engaged    in    nest-clean- 

ing,  representing  three  visits,  at  each  of  which 
many  grasshoppers     and          food  is  served.      Nearly  one  half  life-size. 


I2O 


Wild  Birds 


crickets  had  been  dispatched,  another  Asilus,  the  hairy  robber  fly, 
already  mentioned,  was  brought  in.  Then  another  bright  green 
katydid,  with  its  wings  half  spread  in  its  vain  effort  to  get  free,  was 
served  to  the  young.  If  frightened  in  an  attempt  to  enter  the  nest 


Fig.  73.     Standing  at  entrance  with  large  grasshopper  in  bill. 

this  bird  invariably  returned  shortly,  and  after  the  feeding  was 
over,  would  take  the  excreta,  and  fly  some  distance  before  drop- 
ping it.  In  no  case  was  it  known  to  be  eaten  at  the  nest.  During 
the  afternoon,  when  these  birds  had  become  more  at  ease  in  their 
new  surroundings,  the  nest  was  cleaned  six  times  in  two  hours. 
I  saw  this  bird  bring  to  her  young  no  less  than  twenty  grass- 
hoppers, four  cone-headed  katydids,  two  black  crickets,  besides 
larvae  and  many  small  insects.  During  the  forenoon,  in  the 


The  Nest-Hole  of  the  Bluebird  121 

space  of  nearly  three  hours,  the  young  were  fed  on  the  average 
of  once  in  six  minutes,  and  for  two  hours  in  the  afternoon  once 
in  nine  and  a  half  minutes. 

The  Bluebird  is  one  of  the  most  unobtrusive  of  our  wild 
birds.  It  goes  about  its  business  quietly,  and  seems  never  to 
fight  except  in  defence  of  its  home,  but  we  must  not  be  sur- 
prised to  find  that  individuality  can  assert  itself  even  in  the 
Bluebird.  In  the  case  just  described  the  female  led  the  way, 
while  the  male  was  extremely  timid.  At  another  nest,  on  the 
contrary,  the  conditions  were  quite  the  reverse.  Not  only  was 
the  male  always  first  in  bringing  food,  but  his  pugnacity  reached 
an  unexpected  pitch  in  a  bird  whose  gentle  and  confiding 
manners  have  been  praised  by  many  enthusiasts.  This  nest 
was  boldly  defended  when  the  stump  was  moved,  and  for  more 
than  a  week  thereafter  the  male  fiercely  assailed  every  person 
who  ventured  upon  his  domain.  With  the  speed  of  an  arrow, 
and  with  angry  snapping  of  the  bill,  he  would  dart  straight  at 
the  intruder,  who  involuntarily  ducked  his  head,  and  felt  no 
desire  to  repeat  the  experiment.  This  bird  would  also  dart  at 
the  tent,  and  at  the  observer  the  moment  he  showed  himself 
outside.  In  short  he  was  constantly  at  the  nest,  which  he  de- 
fended most  admirably,  and  was  unremitting  in  the  task  of 
providing  for  his  family. 

According  to  one  authority,  there  are  usually  three  broods, 
and  before  the  first  set  of  young  can  shift  for  themselves  the 
female  repairs  the  nest  and  gets  ready  for  the  second.  The 
male  continues  to  care  for  the  first  brood  after  the  second  has 
appeared,  will  feed  his  mate,  and  even  take  her  place  at  the 
nest. 


CHAPTER  VIII 

MINUTE  OBSERVATIONS  ON  CATBIRDS 

WHILE  the  Catbird  has  a  strong  attachment  for  its  young, 
especially  during  later  days  of  life  at  the  nest,  when 
any  intrusion  will  arouse  its  fighting  instinct  to  the  highest 
pitch,  it  is  under  ordinary  conditions  exceedingly  wary,  sus- 
picious, and  hard  to  approach.  In  the  account  which  follows  I 
shall  describe  only  what  was  seen  while  camping  beside  two 
nests  of  these  birds. 

The  first  of  these  attractive  nests  rested  on  a  spray  of  the 
sweet  viburnum,  in  a  little  clearing  in  dense  bushes,  and  about 
four  feet  from  the  ground,  so  that  no  change  in  its  position  was 
necessary.  It  contained  a  single  addled  egg  and  two  young  with 
the  feather-shafts  of  the  wings  barely  exposed. 

For  an  hour  or  more  after  the  tent  was  in  position,  the  old 
birds  kept  up  a  perpetual  din,  in  which  their  exasperating 
tschaying  note  was  most  pronounced.  They  would  circle  round 
and  round  the  tent,  often  coming  close  as  if  to  discover  the  way 
in,  or  fluttering  and  screaming  at  it,  as  if  it  were  a  demon  to  be 
exorcised.  After  this  they  gradually  became  more  quiet,  and 
began  to  alight  on  the  tent's  guys  and  roof.  At  last  the  female 
was  seen  stealthily  to  approach  and  quickly  feed  her  young. 
After  a  fresh  reconnaissance  both  birds  went  to  the  nest  to- 
gether and  with  rapid,  jerky  movements  stuffed  red  cherries 
into  the  hungry  throats,  inspected  and  cleaned  each  young  bird, 
and  then  darted  away. 

While  in  a  state  of  mind  wavering  between  fear  and  assur- 
ance, the  Catbird  passes  rapidly  to  a  branch,  and  spreading  and 
pumping  the  tail,  pauses  in  an  attitude  of  attention  before 
making  another  movement. 

122 


Minute  Observations  on  Catbirds         123 

Both  birds  now  began  to  bring  an  abundance  of  insects  and 
fruit,  as  if  making  up  for  lost  time.     The  female  came  with 


Fig.  73-     Female  Catbird  bringing  in  a  large  limp  dragon-fly 
—the 


two  cherries  in  her  bill  and  promptly  gave  one  to  each  of  the 
birds.  Then  a  grasshopper  was  served,  and  still  again  a  dragon- 
fly, with  blue  body  and  spotted  wings  (the  Libellula  pulchella). 


i24  Wild  Birds 

The  insect  was  swallowed,  wings  and  all,  but  only  after  pro- 
longed efforts.  As  confidence  was  gradually  regained,  the 
birds  would  remain  longer  and  longer  at  the  nest,  pick  the 
young  all  over,  and  clean  everything  with  care  and  deliberation. 

At  this  time  (July  23d)  the  young  were  about  eight  days 
old,  and  could  be  easily  approached.  Two  days  later,  when  their 
nest  was  touched  they  tumbled  out  in  an  instant,  disappearing 
as  if  by  magic  amid  the  leaves.  I  succeeded  in  finding  one  of 
them,  but  it  refused  to  remain  in  the  old  nest.  Its  wing-quills 
now  showed  a  half  inch  of  the  feather-shaft,  which  represented 
two  days'  growth,  while  the  tail  feathers  were  still  in  the  stub- 
brush  stage. 

There  were  four  young  in  the  second  nest,  which  was  dis- 
covered in  some  bushes  close  to  the  river  bank  on  the  nineteenth 
of  June.  It  rested  in  the  crotch  formed  by  the  crossing  of 
shoots  of  the  dogwood  and  alder.  The  young  were  in  pin- 
feathers,  but  not  a  tube  had  burst.  Both  old  birds  happened 
to  be  off  -foraging,  but  quickly  returned  with  food  in  their 
mouths,  and  began  to  alarm  the  neighborhood. 

The  tent  was  pitched  in  front  of  this  nest  at  eight  o'clock  on 
the  morning  of  June  23d.  After  it  was  closed  both  birds  began 
their  cautious  explorations  in  the  vicinity,  tschaying  incessantly 
and  with  nerve-rasping  vehemence.  A  male  Redwing  Black- 
bird was  soon  attracted  to  the  spot,  and  added  his  note  of 
alarm  to  the  general  outcry,  but  after  rinding  that  the  matter 
did  not  concern  him,  returned  to  his  nest  in  the  flags  farther 
away. 

In  twenty  minutes  the  Catbirds  had  become  more  quiet,  and 
began  to  pay  close  attention  to  the  tent.  The  Redwing  was 
heard  con-quer-eeing  in  the  distance.  Song  Sparrows  were 
singing  merrily.  Veeries  called  from  the  woods  close  at  hand, 
and  the  be-be  I  of  the  Goldfinches  could  be  heard  as  these  birds 
passed  leisurely  overhead.  The  conditions  were  all  reassuring, 
and  presently  the  Catbirds  became  silent,  and  went  off  for  food. 
In  a  few  moments  a  rustling  of  leaves  was  heard  close  to  the  tent 
and  the  male  could  be  seen  coming  boldly  in  its  direction. 

Up  to  this  time  the  young  lay  quietly  in  the  nest,  but  were 


Minute  Observations  on  Catbirds 


I25 


alert  to  every  sound  whether  from  the  wind  or  any  passing 
bird.  Their  wing-quills  had  become  exposed  in  the  course  of 
two  days  to  a  length  of  three  quarters  of  an  inch. 


Fig.  74.     Female  Catbird  inspecting  after  having  fed  the  young. 

Suddenly  a  jubilant  song  burst  from  the  throat  of  the 
male,  and  his  mate  thus  encouraged  approached  the  nest  with 
insect  in  bill,  but  her  fears  were  not  allayed,  for  after  beating 


126 


Wild  Birds 


about  she  swallowed  the  insect  herself  and  went  in  search  of 
another. 

The  young  now  began  to  yip  in  earnest  and  to  stretch  their 
scantily  feathered  transparent  necks.  One  of  the  lustiest  of 
the  four  even  climbed  to  the  edge  and  sat  in  the  shade.  They 
would  erect  their  scanty  crest-feathers  and  pant  in  the  sun, 
which,  though  not  excessively  hot,  was,  with  the  added  feeling 
of  hunger,  beginning  to  make  them  restless. 

The  sense  of  fear  was  at  last  overcome  in  the  mother,  who 
came,  fed  and  cleaned  the  young,  and  flew  off  again.  After 
another  pause  a  huge  dragon-fly  was  brought  to  the  nest.  The 
observer  had  to  wait  long  at  the  beginning,  but  his  reward  was 
now  quick  in  coming.  The  young  were  then  fed  every  five  or 
six  minutes,  but  the  male  rarely  went  to  the  nest  himself.  Still 
cautious  to  a  degree,  he  would  follow  after  the  female,  but  stop 
a  few  feet  short  of  the  nest.  Then  after  delivering  her  insect 
she  would  go  at  once  to  her  mate,  take  the  food  from  his  bill, 
and  bear  it  to  the  young. 

The  following  table  gives  the  number  of  visits  at  which  food 
was  brought  during  eight  consecutive  hours  from  8  A.M.  to  4 
P.M.,  and  illustrates  how  the  parental  instincts,  aided  by  habit, 
gradually  overcome  the  feeling  of  fear  in  a  very  shy  and 
suspicious  animal. 


HOUR. 

NO.  OF  TIMES 
YOUNG  ARE   FED. 

NEST   CLEANED. 

REMARKS. 

I     ) 

2    f 

I 

I 

Young  fed  by  female. 

3 

I 

n         n      *(         it 

4 

5 

I 

n         i*      it         tt 

5 

8 

2 

Young  fed  once  by  male. 

6 

10 

I 

Young  fed  twice  by  male,  who 
also  brings  food  which  fe- 

male delivers. 

7 

ii 

3 

Old  birds  begin  coming  to  nest 

together. 

8 

i? 

4 

Young  fed  twice  by  male,  who 

also  brings  food  for  female 

to  serve. 

Minute  Observations  on  Catbirds         127 

Five  times  in  rapid  succession  the  mother  brought  in  dragon- 
flies  of  extraordinary  size  (the  large  ALschna  hews),  of  a  light 


Fig.  75.     Female  Catbird  cleaning  the  nest. 

greenish-yellow  color,  and  limp  as  wet  paper,  having  just 
issued  from  their  pupa  cases.  This  bird  presented  an  interesting 
sight  as  she  approached  with  one  of  these  long  insects  hanging 
from  her  bill,  for  she  always  held  them  by  the  head.  The 


128  Wild  Birds 

dragon-fly  was  as  long  as  the  young  bird,  but  it  was  invariably 
swallowed  wings  and  all,  though  only  after  a  hard  struggle. 

The  young,  always  on  the  alert,  huddle  to  this  and  that  side 
of  the  nest,  and  stretching  to  the  utmost  limit  their  transparent 
red  necks  display  the  yellow  target  of  the  open  mouth  as  they 
tsit  I  tsit !  to  the  approaching  mother,  who  sounds  her  well- 
known  call. 

On  one  occasion  I  saw  the  female  deliver  a  black  dragon-fly, 
and  afterwards  take  from  the  bill  of  the  male,  who  was  standing 
near,  a  carrion  beetle,  and  pass  it  to  the  young.  Then  keenly 
eying  her  brood,  she  deliberately  .bent  over,  and  as  the  body  of 
one  was  raised  took  from  it  a  small  white  package  and  flew  away. 
Many  of  the  photographs  show  the  birds  performing  this  sanitary 
act,  a  practice  common  to  many  other  species.  During  her 
first  visits  the  female  ate  the  excreta,  but  thereafter  it  was  in- 
variably removed  from  the  nest. 

The  food  served  to  these  young  Catbirds  consisted  of  dragon- 
flies,  which  were  brought  to  the  nest  thirteen  times,  insect 
larvae,  beetles,  moth  millers,  and  a  great  variety  of  smaller 
insects,  varied  with  liberal  courses  of  strawberries.  At  first  the 
old  birds  approached  quietly,  fed  their  young  hurriedly  from  the 
farther  side,  and  were  off  in  a  few  seconds,  but  as  confidence  in 
their  surroundings  was  gradually  restored,  they  would  come  to 
the  nest-front,  with  the  camera  but  three  feet  away,  remain 
there  for  a  full  minute,  and  after  assisting  the  young  to  dispose 
of  their  harder  subjects,  inspect  everything  with  the  greatest 
care. 

When  this  nest  was  visited  two  days  later  the  young  looked 
bright  and  hearty.  They  were  now  in  full  feather,  and  about 
ready  for  flight.  When  the  tent  had  been  cautiously  set  up,  I 
noticed  that  a  number  of  leaves  cast  undesirable  shadows  on 
the  nest.  Though  knowing  well  what  to  expect,  I  decided  to 
take  the  risk,  and  reached  out  to  cut  them  off.  This  was  the 
fatal  spark  which  fired  the  train  of  gunpowder,  for  all  went  off 
in  an  instant  in  a  panic  of  fear,  and  the  game  was  up,  for  Cat- 
birds when  well  out  of  their  nest  at  this  stage  are  out  for  good. 


CHAPTER  IX 

THE  REARING  OF  THE  NIGHT  HAWK 

IN  crossing  a  clearing  one  day  in  June  I  flushed  a  Night  Hawk, 
who  showed  by  her  behavior  that  the  little  depression  from 
which  she  rose  contained  something  of  great  interest  to  both 


Fig.  76.     Night  Hawk  and  eggshells  from  which  it  emerged.    Three  days  old, 
June  27,  1900. 

the  bird  and  myself.  She  was  indeed  incubating  a  single 
marbled  gray  egg,  which  lay  on  a  marbled  gray  patch  of  earth 
still  covered  with  ashes  and  cinder.  The  bird  retired  quietly, 
dropping  with  a  thud  to  the  ground  a  few  feet  away. 

Two  days  later,  if  my  estimate  is  correct,  a  young  Night 
Hawk  cracked  his  shell  neatly  in  two  and  emerged  to  the  light 
of  day.  When  first  seen  on  the  twenty-sixth  of  June  he  was 
well  clothed  in  down,  and  looked  like  a  little  flattened  ball  of 

129 


130 


Wild  Birds 


fluffy  worsted,  of  a  dark  cream  color  mottled  with  brown,  colors 
which  harmonize  well  with  the  usual  tints  of  the  soil.  You  had 
to  look  a  second  time  to  detect  the  stub  of  a  beak  at  the  base  of 


Fig.  77.     Young  Night  Hawk  in  enclosure  on  spot  where  it  was  born,  and  where  it 
remained  until  able  to  fly  when  eighteen  days  old. 

which  the  large  round  nostrils  were  sufficiently  prominent. 
Whenever  this  bird  was  aroused  from  its  all-day  slumbers  the 
eyelids  would  gradually  open  and  disclose  a  pair  of  large,  soft, 
deep  blue  eyes,  the  lower  lids  showing  decided  angular  contours 
which  became  more  striking  as  the  bird  grew. 

The  mother  brooded  during  the  heat  of  the  day  or  sat  as  if 
dozing  beside  her  charge.  When  surprised  at  such  times  she 
rose  and  with  feathers  erect  and  tail  spread  fluttered  off  in  a 
slow  shambling  manner  as  if  to  encourage  pursuit.  With  her 
feathers  raised  and  her  huge  mouth  wide  open,  or  the  mandible 
vibrating  up  and  down  with  an  audible  snapping  sound,  as  if 
set  on  springs,  this  bird  presented  a  curious  appearance,  recalling 


Fig.  78.     Night  Hawk  three  days  old.     Nearly  life-size. 


Fig.   79.     Night   Hawk  nine   days   old,  July  3d.     Length  in  sit- 
ting posture,  3j  inches. 


131 


1 32  Wild  Birds 

the  not  wholly  dissimilar  behavior  which  Eagles  display  when 
stirred  by  similar  emotions.  When  the  young  Night  Hawk  is 
exposed  to  a  hot  sun,  its  lower  jaw  also  begins  to  vibrate  but  at  a 
much  higher  rate  of  speed,  when  it  will  toddle  off  and  crouch  in 
the  shade  of  a  leaf.  It  begins  to  walk  when  three  or  four  days 
old,  but  rarely  emits  a  sound,  except  under  circumstances  which 
will  be  presently  described.  Fearing  lest  the  old  bird  should 
entice  it  away,  I  corralled  it  in  a  small  enclosure  of  wattled  twigs 
on  July  3d.  In  this  pen  it  remained  a  week  longer  or  until 
able  to  fly,  at  the  age  of  about  eighteen  days. 

Wishing  to  witness  the  feeding  habits  of  these  birds,  which 
I  believe  have  never  been  described,  I  spent  parts  of  three  days 
and  nights  camped  beside  the  enclosure  and  was  the  witness 
of  some  interesting  and  curious  sights.  On  the  first  day  I  set 
up  the  tent  at  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  but  heard  no 
sound  for  an  hour,  when  the  young  began  to  pe-up !  At  five 
o'clock  the  pisk  !  of  the  male  sounded  for  the  first  time.  During 
the  interval  a  single  incident  occurred  to  vary  the  monotony.  A 
green  snake  in  the  course  of  his  rambles  had  discovered  the 
young  Night  Hawk,  and  when  first  seen  was  watching  the  bird 
intently  from  a  stump  close  to  the  tent.  The  snake  after  re- 
maining with  head  erect,  and  keenly  eying  the  bird  for  a  long 
time,  slowly  advanced,  putting  out  his  tongue,  but  when  a  few 
inches  away  hesitated  again,  and  as  if  deciding  not  to  experi- 
ment further,  turned  to  one  side  and  disappeared.  The  bird 
paid  no  attention  whatever  to  these  advances  of  the  snake.  At 
this  juncture  I  left  the  tent  for  an  hour,  and  returned  as  the  sun 
was  setting  at  half-past  seven  o'clock. 

At  dark  a  change  begins  to  come  over  the  Night  Hawk 
family.  The  young  bird  shows  signs  of  life,  moves  about  calling 
for  food,  and  grows  livelier  as  the  darkness  increases,  making 
a  sound  like  pe-ur  !  pe-up  !  Both  old  birds  are  now  alert  and 
gyrating  overhead.  You  hear  their  pisk  !  pisk  !  and  the  startling 
sound  caused  by  the  vibration  of  the  wings,  as  an  old  bird  de- 
scends like  a  bolt  toward  the  earth.  As  these  sounds  increase 
with  their  nearer  approach,  the  nervous  excitement  of  the 
young  is  curious  to  behold.  He  is  all  a-tremor,  moves  now  in 


Fig.So.     Night  Hawk  twelve  days  old,  July  6th. 


Fig.  81.     Night  Hawk  sixteen  days  old,  July  loth.     Length  in  sitting  posture,  4f  inches. 

133 


134 


Wild  Birds 


one  direction,  now  in  another,  and  his  pe-ur-note  reaches  a  pitch 
unknown  before.  Presently  you  hear  a  thud  as  if  a  clod  of 
earth  had  dropped.  Then  the  mother  bird,  crawling  over  the 
leaves,  begins  calling  ke-ark  I  ke-ark  !  This  sound,  however  un- 
couth to  the  human  ear,  corresponds  to  the  cluck!  of  the  hen  to 
her  chicks,  and  awakens  an  immediate  response  in  the  young 
Night  Hawk.  He  does  his  best  to  go  to  his  mother,  but  the 

obstacles  being  in- 
surmountable, she 
comes  to  him.  She 
is  loaded  with  fire- 
flies,1 and  as  her 
great  mouth  opens 
you  behold  the  wide 
jaws  and  throat 
brilliantly  illumin- 
ated like  a  spacious 
apartment  all  aglow 
with  electricity. 
With  wings  erect 
and  full-spread  the 
old  bird  approached 
to  within  fifteen  in- 
ches of  my  hand,  making  an  electric  display  at  every  utterance 
of  her  harsh  ke-ark  I  Then  standing  over  her  young,  with  raised 
and  quivering  wings,  she  put  her  bill  well  down  into  his  throat 
and  pumped  him  full.  His  down-covered  wings  were  also 
spread  and  a-quiver.  In  this  position  they  remained  interlocked 
and  silent  for  one  or  two  minutes.  When  the  feeding  was  over  she 
tucked  the  little  one  under  her  breast  and  began  to  brood.  It 
was  not  long  before  she  was  off  again  in  the  darkness,  and  upon 
returning  the  performance  was  repeated,  after  which  she  settled 
down  to  brood  as  if  for  the  night.  This  young  bird  was  fed 
but  twice  each  evening  between  the  hours  of  eight  and  nine 
o'clock,  and  always,  as  I  believe,  by  the  female.  It  is  probable 
that  another  feeding  time  also  occurs  at  dawn.  During  the 
1  Undoubtedly  the  little  beetle  Photinus  pyralis. 


Fig.  82.    The  Night  Hawk  builds  no  nest,  but  lays  its 
eggs  on  the  bare  ground  or  rocks. 


The  Rearing  of  the  Night  Hawk          135 

earlier  hours  the  male  would  sometimes  swoop  down  with 
terrific  wing-blast  as  if  to  drive  away  intruders,  and  he  once 
came  and  sat  by  his  chick  for  ten  minutes  after  dusk  without 
causing  any  excitement.  The  task  of  feeding  was  borne  by 
the  mother,  and  her  presence  never  failed  to  excite  the  young. 

I  tried  to  make  a  flash-light  picture  of  the  old  and  young 
bird  interlocked  in  the  feeding  process,  and  could  easily  have 
succeeded  had  my  lamp  been  of  a  kind  which  showed  no  light 
before  the  flash. 

In  two  weeks  the  mottled  down  of  the  Night  Hawk  chick 
has  given  place  to  mottled  feathers,  in  which  the  tints  range 
from  dark  to  light  brown  or  buff.  The  wing-quills  are  almost 
black  with  buff  edges.  The  fifth  quill  or  primary  has  a  pure 
white  transverse  spot  near  the  point  of  emergence  from  the 
feather-tube,  the  first  trace  of  what  becomes  a  conspicuous  mark 
on  the  wings  of  an  adult  bird.  The  fledgling  is  more  lively  in 
the  daytime,  runs  about  easily,  will  utter  his  pe-ur-note,  and 
can  flv  short  distances. 


CHAPTER  X 

THE  KINGFISHERS  AND  THEIR  KING  ROW 

THE  Kingfisher  has  a  strong  attachment  for  particular  nest- 
ing places,  and  will  occupy  the  same  bank  for  years,  if 
unmolested,  and  sometimes  even  when  robbed.  The  Belted 
Kingfisher,  though  widely  distributed,  seems  to  be  nowhere 
very  abundant.  In  New  Hampshire  one  rarely  finds  more  than 
a  single  pair  nesting  in  the  neighborhood  of  any  village  or  town. 

The  nest  now  to  be  described  was  drilled  into  a  sand  bank 
beside  a  country  road.  It  had  a  straight  four-inch  bore,  which 
four  feet  from  the  opening  expanded  into  a  low-vaulted  chamber 
six  inches  high  and  ten  inches  across.  When  this  dark  sub- 
terranean abode  was  opened  at  the  rear,  on  the  nineteenth  day 
of  July,  1900,  I  put  in  my  hand  and  drew  forth  in  succession  five 
very  strange-looking  creatures.  They  had  huge  conical  bills, 
short  legs,  and  fat  squatty  bodies,  which  bristled  all  over  with 
steel-gray  "quills,"  the  feather-tubes,  which  had  not  yet  burst, 
suggesting  an  antediluvian  monster  or  reptilian  bird  on  a  re- 
duced scale. 

These  five  young  Kingfishers  which  were  then  about  nine 
days  old  had  already  acquired  some  curious  habits.  They,  like 
the  adult  birds,  stand  not  on  the  toes  simply,  but  on  the  whole 
tarsus,  which  corresponds  to  the  scaly  part  of  the  leg  of  a  fowl, 
so  that  the  "drum-stick"  rises  from  the  heel.  They  can  be 
posed  in  any  position  like  toy  soldiers,  but  if  placed  in  line  they 
will  soon  break  ranks  and  walk  backwards,  even  moving  up  in- 
clined planes  or  against  obstacles  set  in  their  paths.  They  are 
rarely  seen  to  take  a  single  forward  step  for  many  days  after 
reaching  this  stage. 

136 


^Cfis^T^W  ban,  with  fish.     July  «, 


ope. 


every  entrance  and  exit. 


137 


138  Wild  Birds 

The  human  infant  and  vertebrated  animals  generally  in- 
stinctively walk  forward;  how  then  does  it  happen  that  the 
young  Kingfisher  early  acquires  the  grotesque  habit  of  walking 
backwards?  The  anomaly  is  readily  understood.  From  the 
time  of  birth  the  young  lie  huddled  in  a  cluster  in  their  dark 
underground  chamber,  which  opens  to  the  outside  by  means  of 
a  single  narrow  tunnel.  As  they  grow  in  size  and  strength  the 
monotony  of  sitting  still,  often  with  legs  and  wings  interlocked, 
must  become  very  great,  and  whether  for  diversion  or  not,  at 
all  events  they  soon  begin  to  bite  and  tease  one  another  like 
young  puppies.  Should  one  be  hard-pressed,  the  only  way  of 
escape  lies  along  the  narrow  passage,  which  they  naturally 
traverse  head  first;  but  the  instinct  to  return  to  the  warm 
family  cluster  is  strong,  and  to  do  this  they  are  obliged  to  walk 
backwards.  Again  when  the  rattle  of  the  alma  mater  announc- 
ing the  capture  of  another  fish  is  heard,  each  struggles  to  get 
down  the  narrow  passage-way  first,  but  when  the  parent  enters 
the  hole  she  hustles  them  all  back.  With  each  backward 
movement  the  young  Kingfishers  thus  come  to  associate  pleasant 
things, — food  and  warmth.  Thus  the  habit  is  temporarily 
fixed. 

Wishing  to  see  these  birds  take  fish  to  their  young,  I  decided 
to  try  the  tent,  although  it  was  impossible  to  get  nearer  than 
eight  feet,  and  the  hole  was  in  full  light  for  only  a  part  of  the 
forenoon;  besides,  being  situated  on  a  roadside,  one  was  in 
constant  danger  of  interruption.  The  experiment  succeeded, 
however,  even  better  than  I  had  anticipated;  ten  visits'  were 
recorded,  and  the  old  birds  were  photographed  in  the  act  of 
both  entering  and  leaving  their  tunnel.  They  brought  a  single 
fish  each  time,  usually  what  appeared  to  be  a  small  chub  or 
dace,  and. I  once  recognized  a  good-sized  sunfish. 

When  the  tent  and  camera  were  ready  at  nine  o'clock  on  the 
morning  of  July  23d,  the  parent  birds  were  away  on  a  fishing 
excursion,  and  did  not  return  for  half  an  hour.  At  last  a  series 
of  warning  rattles,  at  first  faint,  but  momentarily  becoming 
more  shrill,  announced  the  approaching  bird,  who  came  at  full 
tilt  with  fish  in  bill.  Hesitating  at  sight  of  the  tent  she  perched 


The  Kingfishers  and  their  King  Row      139 

on  the  dead  limb  of  a  pine,  flew  to  and  fro  from  one  side  of  the  road 
to  the  other,  and  made  the  woods  resound  as  never  before.     Even 


Fig.  85.  Five  Kingfishers  from  chamber  at  end  of  tunnel ;  nine  days 
old.    July  19,  1900. 


Fig.  86.     Posed  in  line,— biting,  pulling,  and  crowding  one  another. 

the  depths  of  the  earth  seemed  to  respond,  as  the  muffled  rattles 
of  the  five  young   Kingfishers   issued  from   their  subterranean 


140  Wild  Birds 

abode.  From  whatever  point  of  view  we  regard  this  singular 
note,  it  certainly  carries  well  and  is  admirably  adapted  to 
arouse  the  fish  under  water  and  the  young  bird  under  ground. 

When  the  wriggling  fish  nearly  slipped  from  her  grasp,  the 
bird  would  shift  it  about  until  her  forceps  had  a  firmer  grip  at  a 
point  just  back  of  its  head.  At  every  reel  of  the  rattle,  each  of 
which  seemed  more  shrill  and  more  impatient  than  the  last,  she 
would  start  as  if  to  go  to  her  nest  a  few  yards  away.  Occa- 
sionally a  peculiar  creaking  sound  escaped  her,  suggesting  the 
grating  of  dead  limbs  when  swayed  by  the  wind.  Suddenly 
with  rattle  in  shrillest  crescendo  she  bolted  straight  into  the 
hole,  delivered  the  fish,  remained  for  half  a  minute,  then  came 
out  backwards,  turning  in  the  air  as  she  dropped  from  the  en- 
trance, and  with  a  parting  rattle  was  off  to  the  river.  During 
these  visits  the  Kingfishers  usually  remained  but  a  quarter  or 
half  a  minute  in  the  tunnel,  and  always  came  out  backwards, 
except  on  one  occasion  when  I  saw  the  bird  turn  near  the  en- 
trance, and  shoot  out  head  first.  The  longest  visit  recorded 
lasted  three  and  a  half  minutes.  When  a  youngster  was  en- 
countered near  the  mouth  of  the  tunnel  he  was  driven  back  to 
the  chamber,  where  the  food  was  distributed.  Once  only  did 
I  see  an  old  bird  pause  at  the  entrance  for  a  hasty  glance  back- 
ward, and  thus  give  a  good  profile  view  of  head  with  fish  in 
bill.  Unfortunately  the  plate  had  already  been  exposed,  and 
before  it  could  be  changed  the  opportunity  was  lost.  The  old 
birds,  however,  must  have  often  turned  about  at  the  entrance 
on  both  entering  and  leaving  the  hole,  as  shown  by  the  deep 
furrows  plowed  by  the  bill  at  either  side  of  the  opening. 

When  the  young  are  ten  days  old,  the  feather-tubes  have 
begun  to  burst  at  the  tips,  and  their  horny  substance  is  gradually 
shed  in  the  form  of  powdery  scales.  The  feathers  grow  slowly, 
but  at  the  age  of  two  weeks  the  characteristic  colors  of  the  adult 
are  becoming  apparent, — the  slaty -blue  of  the  upper  parts,  and 
the  white  of  the  breast  which  is  -traversed  by  a  bluish-brown 
belt,  with  rusty  brown  along  the  sides.  As  they  rattle  when 
taken  from  the  nest  their  whole  body  quavers.  They  will  hiss, 
bite  one  another,  huddle  together,  and  erect  their  crests  of  long 


The  Kingfishers  and  their  King  Row      141 

stiff  feathers.     They  attain  to  full  plumage  or  nearly  so  when 
three  weeks  old,  at  which  time  their  bright  fresh  colors  and 


Fig.  81.      "The  King  Row."     Five  Kingfishers  in  line,  illustrating  habits  of 
sitting  still.    July  19,  1900. 


The  same  birds  four  days  later  ;  thirteen  days  old,  July  23,  1900. 


docile  natures  make  them  most  attractive.  They  can  fly  but 
little,  and  show  no  fear.  At  this  stage  their  habitual  expression 
suggests  a  peculiar  sardonic  grin. 


Fig.  89.     Kingfisher  nine  days  old,  showing  feather-tubes  and  tracts. 


Fig.  90.  At  thirteen  days  ;  many  of  the  feather-tubes  burst.  The  blue- 
black,  white-tipped  wing-quills  project  half  an  inch.  Notice  that  these 
birds  always  stand,  not  on  the  toes  only,  but  on  the  short  shank  or  tarsus. 

142 


Fig.gi.      Kingfisher  fifteen  days  old,  with  nearly  all  feathers  partly  un- 
sheathed.    July  25,  1900. 


Fig.  92.  At  eighteen  days.  The  bright  blue  tints  of  the  upper  parts,  and 
the  white  and  chestnut  bands  around  the  neck  and  breast  are  now  very 
prominent.  July  28,  1900. 


143 


144 


Wild  Birds 


On  the  fourth  of  August  I  took  these  birds  home  in  a  basket, 
when  twenty-five  days  old,  if  their  age  was  correctly  estimated. 
They  were  about  ready  to  fly  and  would  have  voluntarily  left 
their  nest  in  a  short  time.  The  nesting  chamber  had  been 
gradually  opened  up  in  front  and  filled  at  the  rear,  until  it  had 


Fig.  93.  Kingfishers  twenty-two  days  old.  Placed  in  line  to  illustrate  habit  of 
walking  backwards.  The  second  bird  at  the  left  has  already  broken  ranks  and  taken 
a  few  backward  steps.  August  i,  1900. 

advanced  a  foot  and  a  half  toward  the  mouth  of  the  tunnel. 
At  this  time  fear  was  possessing  them,  and  a  day  later  it  was 
impossible  to  handle  them  without  throwing  them  into  a  panic. 
When  quiet  they  would  still  pose  well,  would  strike  with  open  bill, 
and  walk  backwards. 

During  captivity  I  fed  them  on  fish  which,  however,  they 


The  Kingfishers  and  their  King  Row      145 

would  never  seize  of  their  own  accord.  It  was  necessary  to 
open  their  bills  and  press  the  food  well  down  into  their  dis- 
tensible throats.  They  would  perch  on  a  branch  placed  in  their 
cage,  drink  water  and  sit  in  it  by  the  half-hour,  but  never  touch 
the  most  tempting  morsels  of  food.  Raw  meat  was  rejected, 
but  they  throve  on  fish  if  fed  by  the  hand.  When  perched  they 
stood  as  before  on  the  whole  tarsus  or  shank,  and  would  sit 
together  in  silence,  with  breasts  thrown  out,  for  hours.  You 
heard  only  an  occasional  rattle,  and  that  usually  in  the  morning. 
The  Kingfisher's  oesophagus  is  very  distensible  and  the  throat 
is  lined  with  inwardly  projecting  papillae,  so  that  when  a  fish  is 
once  taken  in  the  throat  it  is  impossible  for  it  to  escape. 

The  bill  of  the  Kingfisher  is  grooved  on  the  inside,  thus 
giving  the  mandibles  sharp  cutting  edges  and  a  firm  gripe  on 
the  prey.  A  fish  once  seized  rarely  makes  its  escape,  to  prevent 
which  the  bird  has  other  resources.  I  once  saw  a  curious  trick 
performed  by  a  Kingfisher,  who  having  made  a  good  capture 
was  perched  on  a  dead  tree  over  the  water.  In  the  course  of 
its  struggles  the  fish  nearly  got  free,  and  for  a  moment  was  held 
only  by  its  tail.  The  bird  with  a  quick  movement  of  the  head 
tossed  the  fish  in  the  air,  and  as  it  descended  caught  it  by  the 
head  and  proceeded  to  swallow  it. 

When  liberated  on  August  i2th,  at  the  age  of  thirty-three 
days,  the  young  Kingfishers  were  suddenly  thrown  upon  their 
own  resources,  and  it  was  questionable  whether  they  would  be 
able  to  recover  the  instinct  to  seek  and  capture  prey.  How- 
ever, they  were  strong  and  healthy,  and  I  hope  that  nature  came 
to  their  aid  not  only  in  prompting  them  to  find  food,  but  in 
starting  them  south  later  in  the  autumn. 


CHAPTER  XI 

NEST-BUILDING 


NEST-BUILDING  had  a  very  early  origin  and,  as  every  one 
knows,  it  is  not  confined  to  birds.  Even  fishes  among 
the  lowest  vertebrates  are  not  wanting  in  builders  of  nests,  and 
the  pile  of  leaves,  sticks,  and  rubbish  which  the  female  alligator 
heaps  over  her  eggs,  tier  after  tier,  will  at  least  compare  favor- 
ably with  the  mounds  of  earth  raised  by  the  Megapodes  or 
Brush  Turkeys.  If  Audubon  is  correct,  the  bird  is  in  this  case 
behind  the  reptile,  for,  according  to  his  account,1  the  alligator 
guards  the  premises  with  unusual  ferocity,  while  the  Megapode, 
like  the  turtle,  when  the  proper  time  arrives,  deposits  her  eggs, 
covers  them,  and  goes  her  way,  her  "maternal  instinct"  being 
perfectly  satisfied  by  the  performance  of  this  simple  duty. 

In  that  inbred  pugnacity  which  characterizes  the  breeding 
season  of  birds  and  higher  animals  generally,  we  possibly  see  the 
origin  of  the  instinct  of  incubation.  The  stages  of  its  evolution 
in  the  reptilian  ancestors  of  birds  may  have  been  as  follows: 
first,  burying  the  eggs,  like  the  turtle  or  mound-building  bird; 
secondly,  burying  or  concealing  the  eggs  and  guarding  them, 
the  necessary  warmth  being  furnished  by  decomposing  vege- 
table debris,  as  in  the  alligator,  and  not  directly  from  the  sun; 
thirdly,  laying  the  eggs  and  sitting  over  them  to  conceal  as  well 
as  to  protect  them,  in  a  secluded  place,  the  necessary  heat  now 
being  furnished  by  the  body  of  the  sitting  bird. 

In  the  first  instance,  the  eggs  may  not  have  been  concealed 

1  "  Observations  on  the  Natural  History  of  the  Alligator,"  New  Philo- 
sophical Journal,  vol.  2,  Edinburgh,  1826-27. 

146 


Nest-Building  147 

at  all,  but  it  seems  probable  that  the  instincts  of  both  con- 
cealment and  pugnacity  were  contemporaneous  as  they  cer- 
tainly were  very  early  in  origin,  According  to  my  idea,  the 
guarding,  evoked  by  the  fighting  instinct,  and  supplemented 
by  the  instinct  to  cover  or  hide  the  eggs,  is  responsible  for  the 


Fig.  94.  Nest  of  Cedar  Waxwing  seen  from  above,  illustrating  simple 
construction  ;  composed  of  dead  grass  and  weeds.  Little  more  than  one 
third  natural  size.  • 

origin  of  the  incubating  instinct,  which  is  usually  strongest  in 
the  female,  and  often  confined  to  that  sex. 

At  all  events  it  has  been  left  for  the  modern  bird  to  develop 
an  ancient  practice  on  a  wider  if  not  on  a  newer  scale,  since  no 
other  animals  have  ever  possessed  their  special  tools  in  their 
present  form, — breast,  bills,  feet,  and  wings, — and  with  them 
the  nesting  instinct  has  become  not  only  more  general  but  more 
highly  developed  than  in  any  other  great  order  of  the  animal 
world. 

The  building  of  the  nest  usually  follows  courtship  more  or 


148  Wild  Birds 

less  promptly,  according  to  the  necessity  of  the  female  for 
dropping  her  eggs.  An  imperfect  nest  does  not  necessarily 
imply  youth  and  inexperience  in  the  builder,  for  when  this  need 
is  urgent  the  work  is  likely  to  be  scamped. 

While  a  few  birds  lay  their  eggs  on  the  bare  ground,  or 
deposit  them  in  a  natural  cavity,  most  gather  some  kind  of 
nesting  material.  Many  build  very  elaborate  structures,  which 
are  often  cradle  and  home  combined,  securing  for  the  egg  an 
equable  distribution  of  warmth,  protecting  the  young  during 
infancy,  and  affording  the  tending  parent  some  degree  of  com- 
fort, when  it  does  not  shield  her  from  sun  and  rain. 

Amid  all  the  endless  variety  in  the  position,  form,  size,  and 
materials  of  the  nest  in  the  different  species  of  birds,  or  resulting 
from  the  vagaries  of  different  individuals,  we  recognize  a  certain 
type-form  characterized  by  the  cup  or  saucer-shaped  inner 
wall,  as  in  the  Sparrows,  the  Crow,  the  Gull,  and  in  by  far  the 
largest  number  which  build  nests  at  all.  Such  true  circular 
rims,  such  symmetrical  deep  or  shallow  molds,  as  perfect  as  if 
thrown  on  a  potter's  wheel,  what  marvels  of  art  and  intelligence 
do  they  not  suggest!  But  as  we  shall  see,  this  stereotyped 
form  is  their  most  mechanical  characteristic,  and  in  its  essence 
is  as  purely  ingrained  as  the  form  of  the  egg. 


We  shall  strike  the  root  of  the  matter  most  surely  by  follow- 
ing closely  the  actual  process  of  construction  of  a  single  nest 
from  start  to  finish.  Under  the  head  of  nidification,  which  many 
writers  seem  to  have  forgotten  means  nest-building,  much  has 
been  written  about  the  completed  product — the  nest, — but  so 
little  concerning  the  builders  at  work  that  fresh  observations 
should  not  come  amiss  on  the  most  common  birds. 

Certainly  among  those  which  perch  and  sing  no  better 
average  representative  could  be  chosen  than  the  Robin,  and  on 
June  24th,  I  was  fortunate  in  finding  a  pair  which  had  made  a 
beginning,  and  were  not  averse  to  being  watched. 

At  the  moment  my  record  began,  a  few  minutes  before  five 


Nest-Building  149 

o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  the  rain  which  was  slowly  falling 
promised  well  for  the  work  of  those  builders,  for  whom  wet 
weather  is  a  direct  advantage  and  they  are  seldom  slow  to 
profit  by  it.  At  this  time  a  few  wisps  of  dead  grass  lay  on  the 
horizontal  crotch  of  an  apple  tree  which  they  had  chosen,  and 
which  I  was  permitted  to  survey  at  a  distance  of  eight  or  ten 
feet.  The  actions  at  this  critical  stage  are  worthy  of  the  closest 
attention,  for  they  give  us  the  key  to  much  of  the  later  con- 
duct, and  as  I  believe  to  the  essential  nature  of  the  actions 
performed. 

It  is  important  to  notice  that  on  the  first  day  both  cock  and 
hen  had  an  equal  share  in  the  building  operations,  but  each 
worked  silently  and  alone,  in  perfect  freedom  and  independ- 
ence. It  was  impossible  for  one  to  observe  and  therefore 
to  imitate  the  other,  yet  their  actions  were  in  perfect  accord. 
Indeed  so  rapid  and  decisive  were  all  their  movements,  and  so 
stereotyped  and  similar  were  all  their  acts,  it  was  impossible  to 
decide  which  bird  was  engaged  unless  a  paler  or  more  deeply 
colored  breast  was  presented  to  view. 

The  materials  were  gathered  from  the  ground,  from  far  and 
near,  and  consisted  of  the  usual  substances, — dead  grass, 
often  pulled  up  by  the  roots,  with  the  adherent  earth,  weed- 
stems,  and  yarn  which  I  had  strewn  over  the  ground.  They 
would  sometimes  try  different  objects,  rejecting  this  straw  or 
selecting  that  weed,  and,  gathering  a  full  load  or  as  often  a 
ridiculously  small  quantity,  fly  straight  to  their  tree,  drop  their 
burden,  and  set  briskly  to  work.  As  much  energy  was  ex- 
pended over  a  few  spears  of  grass  as  over  a  larger  quantity,  and 
their  actions  whether  necessary  or  not  were  the  same.  They 
settled  upon  the  first  straws  and  with  swaying  body,  beating 
wings,  and  vibrating  tail,  tended  at  first  to  scatter  rather  than 
to  mold  the  scant  materials.  Though  as  much  often  fell  to  the 
ground  as  stuck  to  the  limb,  such  losses  were  disregarded. 
Again  the  bird  would  turn  about,  and  beat  the  handful  of  un- 
yielding weed-stems  with  the  wrists  of  her  wings,  or  with  the 
bill  draw  them  under  the  breast,  settle  down  upon  them  and 
shake  as  if  in  an  ague-fit,  attempting  to  use  the  breast  as  a 


150 


Wild  Birds 


form,  when  as  yet  there  were  no  plastic  materials  to  be  shaped. 
With  such  molding  movements  one  might  compare  the  preen- 


Fig.  95.     Female  Robin  brooding:    ache 
to  any  unusual  sound. 


ing  actions  of  nestlings,  which  begin  before  there  are  any  feathers 
to  preen. 

From  one  to  seven  minutes  was  commonly  spent  in  this 
round  of  actions.     Only   a  subdued  cut-cut !  was  occasionally 


Nest-Building  151 

heard,   but  when  another  Robin  or  other  strange  bird  tres- 
passed on  their  preserve  the  alarm  was  promptly  sounded,  and 


Fig.  96.       Baltimore  Oriole  hurriedly  feeding  her  young  before 
all  fear  has  been  subdued  and  behavior  is  free. 

with  shrill  squeals  of  defiance  the  harmless  visitor  was  assailed 
and    driven    away.     The    intruder   was    taken    unawares,    and 
seemed  glad  to  escape  from  such  fiery  outbursts  of  pugnacity. 
At   each    successive   visit    the    characteristic    molding   and 


152  Wild  Birds 

turning  movements  were  repeated,  and  thus  the  work  of  addi- 
tion, subtraction,  arrangement,  and  re-arrangement  would  go 
on  for  hours,  with  serial  repetition,  and  often  with  needless 
expenditure  of  energy.  Since,  however,  more  was  eventually 
gained  than  lost,  a  stable  foundation  was  gradually  reared. 

On  the  first  day  I  watched  the  progress  of  building  for  two 
hours  and  thirteen  minutes,  during  which  thirty  loads  of  material 
were  delivered  by  the  two  birds.  In  the  first  half-hour  of  this 
period  I  recognized  the  female  only,  who  came  eight  times  to 
the  nest-site  at  intervals  of  from  two  to  six  minutes.  Then 
after  a  lull  of  full  half  an  hour  the  male  suddenly  appeared,  at 
a  few  minutes  before  six  o'clock.  Twenty-one  visits  followed 
at  intervals  of  from  one  to  nine  minutes,  during  the  last  eighteen 
of  which  the  cock  was  positively  identified.  The  last  stroke  of 
the  day's  work  was  performed  by  the  male  at  7.07  P.M.,  when 
it  was  growing  dark,  and  he  disappeared.  After  over  four  hours 
of  such  industrious  labor  it  was  truly  surprising  to  find  how  little 
had  been  accomplished ;  only  a  slight  basis  for  the  proper  nest 
had  been  laid,  for  with  all  of  those  turning  and  molding  move- 
ments so  faithfully  practiced,  no  plastic  material  had  yet  ap- 
peared, and  no  true  nest-form  was  visible.  Could  one  want 
better  proof  of  the  instinctive  character  of  such  actions? 

On  the  second  day  my  record  began  at  5.20  in  the  morning, 
and  closed  at  4.30  in  the  afternoon.  The  actual  work  of  the 
builders,  however,  was  probably  resumed  at  dawn,  for  when 
at  more  than  three  hours  thereafter — at  seven  o'clock — the  nest 
was  examined,  thin  walls  had  arisen,  and  the  proper  nest-form 
was  determined. 

The  building  instinct  in  the  male  seemed  to  have  been  com- 
pletely satisfied,  for  while  he  guarded  the  premises  his  mate 
carried  the  work  to  completion.  From  neighboring  trees  he 
watched  her  labors,  sounded  the  customary  signals,  and  gave 
chase  to  casual  visitors. 

At  seven  o'clock  in  the  morning  of  this  day,  or  after  eight 
hours  of  constructive  work,  mud  began  to  appear  among  the 
building  materials.  Hitherto  the  only  earth  used  was  that  which 
accidentally  clung  to  the  roots  of  the  dead  grass  and  weeds  in- 


Nest-Building  153 

corpora  ted,  most  of  this  being  shaken  out  by  the  treatment 
which  these  received.  For  many  hours  after,  this  bird  brought 
mud  alone  about  as  frequently  as  wet  or  muddy  grass.  No 
mortar  was  deliberately  made  either  at  the  nest  or  away  from 
it,  but  much  mixing  of  mud  and  grass  was  effected  by  the 
kneading  or  molding  movements,  which  follow  each  visit,  and 
as  we  have  seen  begin  before  they  are  required.  That  mud  and 
grass  alone  or  mud  and  grass  together  are  taken  at  varying 
intervals  can  have  no  special  significance.  This  bird  would 
bring  a  beakful,  dispose  of  it,  and  depart  so  quickly  it  was  im- 
possible to  distinguish  the  sex  of  the  builder  or  the  nature  of 
the  substance  carried,  if  the  eye  wandered  but  a  moment  from 
the  nesting  place.  Sometimes  the  brown  grass  would  be  drip- 
ping wet,  and  the  ball  of  earth  carried  in  the  bill  larger  than  a 
filbert.  Once  I  saw  a  sprig  of  green  grass  taken  with  a  large 
lump  of  soil  clinging  to  its  roots.  Again,  a  large  package  of 
sodden  grass  would  be  stuffed  crosswise  in  the  full  beak,  or  long 
streamers  of  white  or  colored  yarn  trailed  behind  as  she  flew 
to  the  tree,  and  often  caught  on  twigs  or  leaves.  After  troubles 
of  this  kind  the  Robin  would  now  and  then  fly  first  to  a  bean- 
pole and  take  up  a  little  slack  before  proceeding. 

On  the  second  day  a  definite  habit  of  entering  the  nesting 
tree  and  the  nest  had  been  acquired,  a  subject  which  the  reader 
will  find  more  fully  treated  in  Chapter  XIII.  With  loaded  bill 
the  bird  steered  straight  for  her  tree,  dropped  to  the  horizontal 
branch  about  a  foot  from  the  nest,  and  came  to  attention;  then 
if  all  was  well  she  walked  nimbly  to  the  nest,  stepped  into  it, 
and  lost  no  time  in  getting  to  work.  After  spending  two  or  three 
minutes  or  more  at  the  molding  and  arrangement,  she  popped 
out  on  the  branch,  brought  up  to  attention,  and  slid  down 
quickly  to  the  ground,  or  flying  low  made  off  for  a  distant  field. 
Once  when  a  dog  came  sniffing  through  the  grass,  the  cock  from 
his  bean-pole  perch  gave  a  sharp  alarm,  but  paid  no  further 
attention  and  proceeded  to  erect  and  shake  out  his  feathers. 

At  every  addition  to  the  structure,  as  we  have  already  seen, 
the  materials  are  churned  and  worked  over  afresh,  and  so 
violent  are  some  of  the  beating  and  shaking  movements  that 


154 


Wild  Birds 


the  nest  and  leaves  about  it  are  all  set  to  vibrating  in  unison. 
After  the  circular  wall  was  up  and  well  plastered  with  mud,  this 
Robin  would  occasionally  pause  and  sit  perfectly  quiet  for 
several  seconds,  apparently  resting  from  the  fatigue  of  her 
efforts.  Sometimes  it  even  seemed  as  if  she  were  trying  the  fit  of 


Fig.  97.  Nest  of  Robin  against  side  of  stump,  two  feet  from 
ground.  From  photograph  by  Mr.  J.  B.  Parker.  Cleveland, 
Ohio. 

the  nest,  or  was  adapting  it  to  her  breast-form,  but  this  was 
uncertain.  After  such  pauses  she  would  turn  about  and  re- 
sume work  again;  then,  giving  a  low  wit-wit  !  or  cut-cut !  note, 
she  went  off  in  haste.  Once  while  this  bird  was  busy  at  mold- 
ing, a  loud  tseet-tseet !  from  a  neighboring  Robin  family  elicited 
a  quick  response  in  corresponding  key,  while  she  went  on  with 
her  work.  When  fully  alarmed,  whether  carrying  burdens  or 


Nest-Building  155 

not,  they  fly  to  a  high  or  advantageous  perch,  and  listen  at- 
tentively before  making  another  move. 

On  leaving  the  nest  the  female  was  rarely  joined  by  her 
mate,  who  escorted  her  to  the  spot  where  materials  were  sought, 
but  his  efforts  stopped  at  this  point.  In  bringing  a  ball  of  mud 
in  the  course  of  the  morning,  the  hen  came  to  the  branch  in  the 
habitual  way,  walked  straight  into  the  nest,  and  spent  ten 
minutes,  the  longest  recorded  time,  in  the  work  of  molding. 
She  sat  deep  down,  her  head  and  tail  only  being  visible  under 
the  rim,  shaking  and  turning  most  of  the  time.  Suddenly, 
with  a  low  cut-cut !  she  was  off  and  in  less  than  a  minute  returned 
with  another  lump. 

In  the  course  of  the  afternoon  of  the  second  day,  dry  grass 
was  added  as  a  lining  to  the  nearly  completed  nest,  when  the 
same  turning  movements  were  repeated;  but  now  the  custom 
of  sitting  quietly  for  a  few  seconds  at  a  time,  as  if  laying  or 
incubating  an  egg,  became  more  frequent,  after  which  would 
follow  more  pulling  at  the  materials,  and  shaking  until  every- 
thing was  all  a-quiver  again.  The  mud  which  was  brought 
after  this  time  was  apparently  incorporated  into  the  nest's  rim. 

Operations  were  resumed  early  in  the  morning  of  the  third 
day,  and  continued  about  four  and  a  half  hours.  At  half-past 
8  o'clock  I  found  this  Robin  sitting  quietly  in  her  nest.  After 
adding  a  few  more  touches,  and  uttering  a  subdued  note  as  if 
expressive  of  her  satisfaction  in  the  work,  she  flew  away.  When 
an  hour  had  passed,  and  she  had  not  returned,  I  decided  to 
inspect  the  new  abode.  It  was  evidently  finished;  the  walls 
were  firm  and  true,  the  rim  perfect,  and  the  whole  was  lined  with 
dry  brown  grass  of  a  rather  fine  quality,  according  to  the  ancient 
rules  of  this  guild. 

Three  eggs  were  laid  June  28-30,  between  10.30  and  11.30 
A.M.  Incubation  began  June  29,  after  the  appearance  of  the 
second  egg,  and  lasted  thirteen  days;  two  young  were  hatched 
and  one  egg  was  addled.  At  each  recorded  visit  material  was 
brought  and  incorporated  into  the  nest.  The  rate  of  building 
and  the  total  number  of  loads  of  materials  which  went  into  this 
nest  are  estimated  from  exact  records  extending  over  nine  hours. 


156 


Wild  Birds 


The  building  records  of  these  birds  may  be  tabulated  as 
follows : 

BUILDING  RECORD  OF  ROBIN. 


1903 

JUNE  24-26. 

TIME. 

BIRDS 
ENGAGED. 

HOURS  OF 
WORK. 

RATE  OF 
DELIVERY 
IN 
MINUTES. 

NO.  OF 
VISITS  OR 
LOADS 

CHARACTER 
OF    MATERIALS. 

ist  day 

2   P.M. 
7.07     P.M. 

Male  and 
female. 

5 

3i 

86 

Stubble, 

yarn  ,     and 

dead  grass. 

sd  day 

4    A.M.  tO  7 
P.M. 

Female 

14 

7i 

112 

Dead   grass, 

wet  or  dry, 

and  mud. 

3d  day 

4      A.M.     tO 

8.30    P.M. 

Female 

4i 

i3i 

20 

Fine  dry 

grass,  and 

little  mud. 

Totals. 

23i 

2x8 

From  the  time  of  completion  to  the  laying  of  the  first  egg 
two  days  elapsed,  and  during  this  interval  all  was  so  quiet  about 
the  premises  I  even  feared  that  they  had  abandoned  their  nest; 
but  they  probably  continued  to  guard  it,  and  certainly  did  after 
the  first  egg  was  laid. 

According  to  our  computation,  218  loads  or  increments  went 
into  this  building;  it  was  wrought  in  about  twenty -three  work- 
ing hours,  and  four  fifths  of  the  work  was  performed  by  the  fe- 
male. At  the  nest  each  bird  worked  alone  and  out  of  sight  of  the 
other,  so  that  the  possibility  of  imitation  was  excluded.  It  is  in- 
teresting to  see  how  the  rate  of  building,  starting  with  an  average 
of  seventeen  visits  to  the  hour  on  the  first  day,  gradually  slowed 
up  to  eight  visits  on  the  second  day  and  to  five  on  the  third, 
when  a  new  habit  was  gradually  developed,  that  of  sitting 
quietly  in  the  nest  for  longer  and  longer  intervals.  Later  these 
resting  periods  become  even  longer,  when  the  bird  stays  to  lay 
her  eggs  and  finally  to  incubate  them. 

Whenever  instinct  leads  the   way,   and   actions   are   often 


Fig.  98.  Female  Brown  Thrush  brooding  her  young.  Lens,  Extra  Rapid  g/s  inch  ; 
speed,  |;  stop,  32;  time,  £  second;  plate,  Seeds'  No.  27  "gilt  edge";  distance,  four 
feet ;  in  full  sun.  July  13,  1900. 

157 


158  Wild  Birds 

repeated,  a  habit  is  sure  to  follow.  Instincts  are  thus  con- 
stantly being  overlaid  or  replaced  by  the  results  of  experience. 
This  is  seen  in  the  merest  trifles  as  well  as  in  the  more  important 
or  pronounced  activities.  Thus,  it  was  not  long  after  incuba- 
tion began  before  this  bird  had  adopted  a  definite  position, 
while  sitting  on  her  eggs — her  head  being  always  turned  in  the 
same  direction.  Since  she  faced  the  path  of  approach,  this 
habit  may  have  been  determined  by  the  habit  of  approach 
already  referred  to,  or  have  been  dictated  by  convenience  or  the 
ease  by  which  the  avenue  of  approach  could  be  surveyed. 

Many  of  the  details  which  we  have  recorded,  such  as  the  rate 
of  building,  the  amount  of  materials  used,  the  time  of  dropping 
the  eggs,  which  according  to  some  observers  are  laid  in  the 
early  morning,  are  relatively  unimportant,  for  they  vary  with 
the  individual.  Far  more  significant  is  the  general  stereotyped 
character  of  the  actions,  which  being  so  nearly  the  same  produce 
in  all  Robins  so  nearly  the  same  results.  Few  more  typical 
examples  of  instinctive  behavior  can  be  witnessed  in  higher 
animals  than  the  serial  acts  by  which  the  adaptive  and  often 
beautiful  nest  of  the  wild  bird  is  produced. 

The  proof  of  instinct  lies  in  the  molding,  beating,  and 
turning  movements,  which  are  not  under  the  effective  control 
of  a  guiding  intelligence,  since  they  are  begun  before  they  are 
required,  are  often  continued  longer  than  necessary,  and  with- 
out economy  of  effort.  As  much  energy  is  often  spent  over  a 
few  straws  as  over  a  much  larger  load,  even  when  the  move- 
ments tend  to  scatter  rather  than  to  consolidate  the  materials 
already  gathered. 

While  instinct  holds  the  reins  in  nest-building,  the  actions 
of  the  builders  are  more  or  less  modified  or  irradiated  by 
gleams  of  intelligence,  although  this  does  not  as  a  rule  carry 
them  very  far.  Here  is  a  small  instance  in  point :  when  red,  white, 
and  blue  yarn  was  thrown  on  the  ground,  the  white  was  taken 
almost  immediately,  probably  because  it  was  the  more  con- 
spicuous, but  it  often  bothered  them  to  carry  a  long  streamer 
clear.  Once  when  Cock  Robin  with  his  beak  full  of  yarn 
alighted  on  the  branch  and  started  to  walk  to  the  nest,  several 


Nest-Building  159 

loops  caught  on  a  stub  and  brought  him  up  at  a  short  turn. 
The  situation  afforded  a  good  opportunity  for  the  display  of 
intelligence  (a  good  chance,  too,  for  an  animal  romancer  to 
spin  a  yarn),  and  the  bird  was  not  wholly  wanting.  He  first 
tried  to  force  matters  by  putting  his  whole  weight  into  a  lateral 
strain,  but  failing  in  this  he  faced  about,  back  to  the  nest,  and 
pulled  with  the  same  result.  Then  he  advanced  a  step  or  two, 
gathered  up  a  little  slack,  and  pulled  again,  this  time  losing 
his  hold  except  on  a  few  strands  which  were  drawn  up  and  in- 
corporated into  the  nest.  After  seven  minutes  spent  in  mold- 
ing he  walked  out  on  the  branch  and  picked  up  another  thread 
of  yarn,  but  the  rest  was  left  clinging  to  the  stub,  and  no  further 
attempt  was  made  to  remove  it.  While  a  start  was  made  in  the 
right  direction,  the  simple  solution  of  the  problem,  to  release 
the  yarn  with  the  bill,  did  not  occur  to  this  Robin.  From  long 
observation,  I  am  convinced  that  birds  seldom  comprehend  the 
conditions  of  what  seem  to  us  the  simplest  situations,  but  excep- 
tions no  doubt  occur.  I  have  seen  a  young  Chipping  Sparrow 
swallow  a  horsehair,  and  the  mother  remove  it,  while  I  have 
known  of  an  Oriole  becoming  entangled  in  its  nest  and  allowed 
to  die  without  any  attempt  at  rescue  being  made  by  its  mate. 


While  watching  the  Robins,  my  attention  was  often  diverted 
by  a  pair  of  Chebecs,  which  early  began  to  appropriate  the  yarn 
and  carry  it  to  a  certain  tree  where  I  knew  that  a  nest  was  well 
under  way.  They  were  so  greedy  with  this  material  that  I 
determined  to  satisfy  them,  and  getting  a  quantity  of  cotton 
cloth  I  tore  it  in  ribbons  from  one  to  two  feet  long,  and  with  a 
quantity  of  white  hens'  feathers  strewed  it  on  the  ground.  We 
soon  witnessed  some  curious  sights,  and  the  nest  which  was 
later  completed  was  in  some  respects  the  most  remarkable 
I  have  ever  seen. 

Ordinarily  this  little  flycatcher  uses  the  finest  grade  of 
vegetable  fibers  which  have  been  swingled  by  wind  and  rain, 
and  bleached  to  that  neutral  gray  tint  which  to  the  ordinary 
eye  passes  for  lichens  or  gray  bark  when  implanted  in  the 


160  Wild  Birds 

crotch  of  a  tree.  It  has,  I  believe,  never  been  shown  how  this 
bird  makes  the  wall  of  its  nest  so  compact  and  smooth.  This 
pair  worked  two  days  at  building,  during  which  the  character- 
istic molding  movements,  which  we  have  seen  in  the  Robins, 
were  repeated  in  the  same  mechanical  manner,  but  when  the 
walls  were  up  a  peculiar  smoothing  process  was  applied  to  the 
outside.  Standing  within  the  nest  and  leaning  over  its  brim, 
this  bird  would  "iron"  the  outside  with  her  head.  Bending 
down,  she  drew  alternately  the  left  and  right  side  of  the  head 
and  neck  over  the  outside,  in  one  continuous  movement,  as  you 
would  strop  a  razor.  The  little  bird  practices  this  "ironing" 
process  frequently,  turning  about  until  every  part  of  the  outer  sur- 
face has  been  reached.  While  thus  engaged  you  would  hear  only 
an  occasional  chick-chick!  When  the  walls  were  up,  the  smooth- 
ing movements  were  repeated  at  each  visit,  whether  any  material 
was  added  or  not,  after  which  the  bird  would  sometimes  settle 
down,  turn,  and  shake  like  a  Robin.  Once  while  engaged  with 
the  lining,  and  a  feather  accidentally  stuck  in  the  mouth  of  the 
worker  and  refused  to  move,  the  bird  flew  to  a  branch  and 
energetically  rubbed  its  bill  until  relieved.  In  gathering  the 
nest  material,  a  regular  course  of  action  was  generally  adopted. 
Coming  first  to  a  bean-pole,  at  least  one  of  them — probably  the 
male — would  call  in  his  incisive  way  chebec  !  chebec  I  look  about 
cautiously,  drop  to  the  ground,  select  something,  and  fly  by  easy 
stages  from  tree  to  tree  to  the  nest-site  two  rods  away.  The 
streamers  being  difficult  to  manage  often  caught  on  branches 
or  dropped  to  the  grass,  so  that  a  regular  trail  was  eventually 
established,  leading  up  to  the  very  nest  itself. 

This  nest  was  placed  high  in  an  apple  tree,  and  when  finished 
was  almost  wholly  composed  of  white  yarn,  cotton  cloth,  and 
the  hens'  feathers,  which  I  had  supplied  to  the  birds.  They 
were  compacted  as  well  as  their  nature  would  admit,  but  all 
about  the  nest  and  hanging  from  every  part  of  it  were  streamers 
of  white  cloth  from  one  to  two  feet  long,  making  it  in  all  prob- 
ability the  most  conspicuous  if  not  the  most  curious  piece  of 
nest-building  ever  executed  by  these  birds.  Since  there  was 
three  times  as  much  material  as  was  needed,  and  most  of  this 


Nest-Building  161 

not  of  the  proper  sort,  one  is  at  a  loss  to  explain  such  a  de- 
parture from  their  usual  custom.  However,  whatever  may 
have  been  the  previous  experience  of  these  birds,  this  nest, 
though  completed,  was  never  occupied,  and  in  three  days  it 
was  torn  down  and  the  materials  disappeared. 


The  nests  of  Chipping  Sparrows  are  notoriously  defective  in 
point  of  stability,  and  frequently  suffer  from  this  cause,  as 
well  as  from  a  lack  in  the  proper  materials  of  construction. 
Although  the  hair  lining  is  well  modeled,  a  proper  foundation 
is  seldom  laid,  and  the  whole  fabric  is  often  so  thin  that  the 
eggs  can  be  seen  through  its  walls.  The  winds  frequently 
knock  the  bottoms  out  of  such  nests,  but  the  Sparrows  are 
incapable  of  profiting  from  such  experiences,  and  persist  in  fol- 
lowing a  stupid  instinct  which  in  this  case  is  veritably  a  blind 
and  inefficient  guide. 

While  watching  the  Robins  and  Chebecs,  I  could  also  follow 
the  behavior  of  a  pair  of  these  Sparrows  who  were  engaged  in 
the  same  operations.  The  same  molding  movements  which  we 
have  described  were  repeated  in  the  Sparrows.  After  this  nest 
was  essentially  finished  the  behavior  of  both  birds  was  most 
suggestive  of  the  instinctive  character  of  all  their  actions,  and 
of  their  chain-like  relation.  The  female  would  drop  to  the 
ground,  twittering  all  the  while,  and  with  wings  spread  and 
quivering  await  the  approach  of  her  mate;  the  action  was 
usually  quickly  repeated,  when  the  female  at  once  repaired  to 
the  nest,  sat  in  it  for  a  few  minutes,  and  then  flew  off.  In  the 
course  of  a  little  over  two  hours,  these  actions  were  repeated 
four  times.  At  eight  o'clock  in  the  morning  of  the  following 
day  there  was  a  repetition  of  this  performance,  the  female 
always  going  to  the  nest  and  remaining  about  three  minutes; 
at  times  there  would  be  a  recurrence  of  the  molding  movements, 
but  nothing  was  added  to  the  structure.  These  actions  were  con- 
tinued until  the  first  egg  appeared,  and  illustrate  in  the  clearest 
manner  how  one  set  of  serial  instinctive  acts  shades  into  another 
series,  which  are  also  instinctive,  but  of  a  different  character. 


162 


Wild  Birds 


In  the  home  and  nursery  of  the  Gull  we  see  how  commu- 
nal life  has  affected  their  behavior  at  every  turn,  and  especially 
the  nest  and  all  that  concerns  it. 

When  pairing  has  been  accomplished  in  the  Great  Herring 
Gull,  the  nests  are  built  either  on  the  ground  or  in  trees,  both 


Fig.  99.       Eggs  of  the  Great  Herring  Gull,  in  ground-nest,  composed  of 
grass,  sheep's  wool,  and  feathers.    Great  Duck  Island,  Maine.    July  23,  1903. 

birds  having  a  share  in  the  work.1  They  take  any  materials 
which  come  to  hand,  pulling  grass  and  weeds,  splitting  up  the 
dead  timber  into  chips  with  their  powerful  chisel-shaped  bills, 
gathering  sticks,  feathers,  or  sheep's  wool  from  the  ground,  or 
fresh  seaweeds  from  the  rocks.  A  last  year's  nest  is  sometimes 
repaired,  but  whether  by  the  original  owners  or  not  is  not 
certainly  known,  or  a  new  site  is  chosen.  To  this  point  the 
1  This  is  at  least  true  later  in  the  season  when  sporadic  attempts  at 
nest-building  are  going  on. 


Nest-Building 


'63 


materials  are  brought  and  dropped  when  the  bird  immediately 
settles  upon  them,  very  much  like  the  Robin,  and  scratching 
with  its  great  webbed  feet,  and  pressing  with  its  beautiful 
white  breast,  it  practices  all  the  typical  molding  movements 
upon  the  inchoate  mass.  But  whatever  the  material,  whether 
green  and  brown  seaweeds  freshly  plucked  from  the  rocks,  or 


Pig.  too.     Gall  sitting  on  the  nest  shown  in  Fig.  99. 

chips  inlaid  with  fresh  grass  and  weeds,  they  build  a  symmetrical 
and  often  beautiful  nest,  with  a  shallow  bowl,  about  ten  inches 
in  diameter. 

A  curious  fact,  however,  with  these  Gulls  is  that  the  nest- 
building  instinct  is  so  diffused  that  they  are  pulling  grass  and 
picking  up  chips  all  summer  long,  sometimes  dropping  this  ma- 
terial, sometimes  carrying  it  to  their  nests.  They  will  frequently 
repair  old  nests  and  incubate  addled  eggs,  and  I  have  seen  the 
dead  body  of  an  unfortunate  chick  treated  as  so  much  building 


1 64  Wild  Birds 

material  in  such  a  nest,  from  which  no  young  had  been  success- 
fully reared.  Very  often,  too,  late  in  July,  when  some  chicks 
have  taken  to  the  water,  nest-repairing  is  not  only  kept  up, 
but  many  brand-new  nests  are  begun  which  can  never  be  oc- 
cupied. In  some  of  these,  which  are  rarely  finished,  eggs  are 
even  laid,  but  it  is  too  late  for  the  successful  rearing  of  chicks. 
When  we  see  a  Robin  with  stubble  in  its  bill,  the  meaning  is 
clear  and  infallible.  The  nesting  season  for  Robins  is  on,  and 
that  bird  has  eggs  to  be  laid  and  probably  to  be  hatched.  Only 
the  other  day,  October  30,  I  saw  a  House  Sparrow  fly  up  towards 
the  window  with  a  sprig  of  dead  grass.  No  doubt  it  was  build- 
ing its  bag-shaped  winter  house  or  lodge ;  but  when  you  see  a 
Great  Herring  Gull  toying  with  sticks,  grass,  or  feathers,  it  is 
impossible  to  say  what  it  means.  You  must  watch  and  see,  and 
the  sights  which  are  likely  to  follow  are  often  well  worth  watching. 

I  have  seen  a  Gull  standing  on  the  rocks  pick  up  and  drop 
several  times  a  stick  one  and  a  half  feet  long,  as  if  listlessly 
playing  with  it,  or  seeking  an  outlet  for  its  energies.  I  have 
seen  a  timid  Gull,  when  approaching  its  nest  of  eggs,  hesitate, 
and  then  picking  up  a  chip,  advance  a  few  steps  nearer,  as  if 
gaining  assurance  by  such  actions.  I  have  seen  an  old  Gull, 
while  sitting  on  eggs,  repeatedly  reach  out  and  pull  up  grass  by 
the  roots  and  incorporate  it  into  the  nest.  In  sparring  bouts, 
which  are  sometimes  the  prelude  to  desperate  encounters,  these 
birds  will  stand  facing  each  other  like  fighting  cocks,  cats,  or 
dogs,  when  suddenly  one  will  give  the  other  a  vicious  lunge. 
Very  often  such  sallies  come  to  nothing,  when  one  or  both  birds 
seem  suddenly  to  lose  all  interest  in  the  quarrel,  and  begin  to 
pick  up  chips,  pull  grass,  or  stab  a  rotten  log  with  their  strong, 
chisel-pointed  bills.  At  other  times  the  encounter  is  more  friendly, 
and  probably  corresponds  to  what  in  other  species,  like  the 
Albatross,  has  been  described  as  a  dance.  Bending  until  the 
breast  touches  the  ground,  and  bringing  the  head  up  and  down 
with  quick  jerks,  they  give  a  peculiar  crooning  note.  Then  they 
begin  to  play  with  chips  and  grass,  and  after  indulging  in  fre- 
quent screams  finally  separate,  or  begin  their  elaborate  toilets. 

It  is  curious  to  see  a  pair  of  birds  attended  by  chicks  whining 


Nest-Building  165 

for  food,  repeatedly  offer  them  grass  and  sticks  before  producing 
the  fish  which  they  carry  in  their  stomachs  or  after  having  fed 
them,  gather  a  mass  of  grass,  carry  it  away,  and  deposit  it  at 
the  foot  of  a  stump,  as  they  do  when  actually  building  a  nest. 

It  is  thus  plain  that  in  such  actions  we  have  the  expression 
of  a  great  variety  of  emotions.  In  some  cases  they  lead  to  the 
repair  and  temporary  occupation  of  old  nests  at  the  close  of 
the  season,  when  for  days  at  a  time  the  old  birds,  as  if  with 
instincts  imperfectly  satisfied,  will  incubate  an  addled  egg.  It 
is  not  improbable  that  in  such  sporadic  actions,  as  in  the  more 
serious  work  of  actual  nest-building,  similar  emotions  are  ex- 
pressed in  a  similar  way. 

At  all  events  this  behavior  of  the  Gull  sheds  light  on  the 
reputed  intelligence  and  forethought  of  the  Ospreys,  which  are 
said  to  repair  their  nests  at  the  close  of  summer  in  anticipation 
of  the  coming  year.  This  casual  return  of  the  nest-building 
instinct  is  undoubtedly  the  same  in  the  Hawk,  Eagle,  or  Gull, 
and  implies  no  more  forethought  in  one  than  in  the  other.  I 
think  we  can  understand  why  some  birds,  like  Robins  and 
Phoebes,  occasionally  build  more  than  one  nest,  and,  unlike  the 
Gulls,  build  them  together  and  in  the  same  spot.  Their  instinct 
is  not  satisfied  with  the  building  of  a  single  nest. 


The  philosophy  of  nest-building  is  set  forth  in  a  new  light 
by  the  study  of  the  Gulls  and  Terns.  Mr.  Wallace  once  main- 
tained that  the  young  of  wild  birds  learned  enough  about  their 
nests  in  infancy  to  enable  them  to  reproduce  the  same  type  of 
architecture  when  they  came  to  rear  offspring  of  their  own. 
It  was  also  affirmed  that  the  beginner  in  this  art  received  aid 
by  mating  with  an  older  bird.  The  first  notion  is  not  to  be 
taken  seriously,  and  in  support  of  the  second  the  testimony 
is  insufficient.  It  is  now  almost  universally  admitted  that 
the  initial  steps  in  nest-building  are  in  every  case  instinctive,  or 
independent  of  experience. 

It  is  impossible  to  suppose  that  young  birds  have  concep- 
tions of  any  kind,  or  are  able  to  distinguish  their  artificial  nest 


1 66 


Wild  Birds 


from  such  natural  objects  as  leaves  and  trees.  We  might  go 
even  a  step  further  and  maintain  that  some  adult  birds,  like 
certain  of  the  Terns,  have  no  knowledge  of  the  use  to  which 
the  nest  is  put. 

A  nest  like  that  of  the  Oriole  or  the  Robin,  the  building  of 
which  we  have  watched,  is  composed  of  hundreds  of  pieces  or 
increments — fibers  of  grass,  roots,  strings,  pellets  of  earth  or 

what  not  —  molded 
into  a  compact  and 
symmetrical  whole, 
which  serves  a  defi- 
nite purpose,  and 
serves  it  so  admira- 
bly that  it  is  difficult 
to  avoid  the  conclu- 
sion that  the  bird 
knows  what  that  pur- 
pose is. 

If,  while  some 
Robins  built  a  per- 
fect nest,  and  others 
built  none  at  all, 

still  others  should  make  a  beginning  but  stop  short  at  every  stage 
of  incompletion,  it  would  be  occasion  for  surprise,  to  say  the  least. 
Yet,  this  is  precisely  what  the  Terns  do  on  Matinicus  Rock,  Maine. 
Some  lay  their  eggs  in  a  rocky  crevice  or  depression,  where  they 
often  drown  in  the  water  which  collects  after  rains,  or  are  rolled 
out  by  the  wind  and  perish;  others  gather  half  a  dozen  bits  of 
mussel  shell  not  larger  than  a  dime  from  pools  a  few  yards 
away,  or  bite  off  a  few  bits  of  green  leaf  or  weeds,  and  this 
answers  for  a  nest;  still  others  carry  the  building  to  completion, 
and  fashion  a  really  commodious  nest.  Every  stage  in  the  pro- 
cess is  represented  after  operations  have  ceased  and  the  eggs 
have  been  laid.  Surely  were  mankind  to  conduct  their  build- 
ing affairs  in  this  indecisive,  haphazard  manner,  they  could 
not  be  credited  with  any  intelligent  sense  of  the  use  which 
houses  or  even  temporary  shelters  are  intended  to  serve. 


Fig.  101.     Common  Tern  brooding  a  chick  away 
from  the  nest.    Matinicus  Rock,  Maine.    July,  1902. 


CHAPTER  XII 

DEVELOPMENT  AND  CARE  OF  THE  YOUNG 

I 

EGG    AND    CHICK 

THE  nest  or  the  spot  on  which  the  eggs  are  laid  becomes  in 
most  birds  the  center  of  the  home-life,  and  is  the  focal 
point  of  our  interests,  because  it  is  there  that  the  young  are 
born.  We  have  briefly  analyzed  the  principal  terms  of  the 
reproductive  cycle  (Chapter  I.),  and  have  seen  the  rise  and 
interplay  of  a  series  of  commanding  instincts,  which  develop 
in  a  definite  order  and  run  a  definite  course,  one,  if  unchecked, 
leading  to  the  next  in  sequence.  When  the  young  are  hatched, 
a  complicated  routine  of  nest-life  is  developed.  The  parental 
instincts  reach  a  climax  and  then,  gradually  yielding  to  im- 
pulses of  another  kind,  subside. 

Each  term  of  the  cycle  invites  us  to  renewed  study  and 
observation  in  all  the  great  families  of  birds,  but  we  can  men- 
tion only  a  few  of  the  interesting  facts  which  have  been  gathered, 
or  were  already  known. 

The  size,  form,  and  color  of  the  eggs,  as  well  as  the  time 
when  they  are  laid,  are  subject  to  great  variation,  not  only  in 
birds  as  a  class,  but  in  a  lesser  degree  in  the  same  species,  and 
even  in  the  same  individual. 

The  ovarian  tube  is  no  respecter  of  particular  eggs  or  egg- 
fragments,  but  treats  all  alike.  Double-  or  triple-yolk  eggs  are 
occasionally  seen,  but  still  rarer  cases  are  recorded  in  which  a 
normal  egg  of  the  domestic  fowl  or  goose,  with  one  or  even  two 
yolks,  was  enclosed  in  a  shell  of  colossal  size.  Again,  a  small  egg  or 

167 


1 68  Wild  Birds 

only  parts  of  one  may  get  a  shell  in  due  course,  thus  producing 
the  "runts"  occasionally  seen  in  nests.  Indeed,  I  have  known 
in  the  common  hen  a  single  instance  in  which  a  small  and  im- 
perfect egg  with  a  shell  was  incased  in  the  yolk  of  a  large  and 
normal  egg,  so  that  the  curious  anomaly  of  egg  within  egg  was 
produced  in  a  most  striking  manner.  In  such  rare  cases  the 
small  egg,  though  possessing  a  shell,  is  imperfect. 

Spots  of  pigment,  when  present,  are  often  blurred,  or,  as  in 
the  Orioles  and  Blackbirds,  drawn  as  with  a  fine  pen  around  the 
shell,  clearly  showing,  if  other  proof  were  lacking,  that  the  egg 
not  only  rotates  on  its  long  axis,  but  often  oscillates  in  the 
downward  course  in  the  ovarian  tube. 

The  delicately  colored  eggs  of  many  wild  birds  are  among 
the  most  beautiful  objects  in  nature,  but  what  this  wonderful 
display  of  color  really  means  is  doubtful.  The  pale  greenish- 
blue,  brown-mottled  eggs  in  the  open  nest  of  the  Song  Sparrow 
seem  to  be  protectively  colored,  because  they  match  their  sur- 
roundings so  perfectly,  yet  the  Crow  also  lays  mottled  eggs,  and 
the  European  Magpie,  which  produces  eggs  of  the  same  pattern, 
effectively  conceals  them  by  building  an  arched  roof  over  its 
nest,  which  is  entered  at  the  side. 

A  long  time  ago  it  was  observed  that  the  eggs  of  many  birds 
which  are  laid  in  dark  holes  are  often  white,  as  in  Parrots,  Wood- 
peckers, Kingfishers,  and  Swifts.  It  was  only  natural  to  sup- 
pose that  the  lack  of  pigment  might  be  due  to  the  absence  of 
light,  and  further  that  it  was  a  useful  adaptation,  since  the 
whiter  and  more  conspicuous  the  egg  the  more  likely  was  it  to 
escape  injury  from  the  owners  when  entering  their  dimly  lighted 
apartments.  Here  also  many  exceptions  occur,  which  may  be 
due  to  the  fact  that  the  color  of  the  egg  is  a  more  stable  character 
than  the  nesting  habit. 

As  in  all  other  animals,  the  relative  size  of  the  egg  is  directly 
proportional  to  the  degree  of  development  attained  by  the 
young  at  birth,  the  altricial  Robin  or  Cedar-bird  laying  a  rela- 
tively smaller  egg  than  the  praecocial  Snipe  or  Grouse,  which  is 
able  to  run  about  from  birth  or  as  soon  as  dried  off. 

The  eggs  are  usually  laid  on  successive  days,  and  in  definite 


Development  and  Care  of  the  Young     169 

numbers,  subject  to  variations,  some  of  which  have  been  already 
noticed  (Chapter  I.). 

The   Chipping   Sparrow  mentioned  in  the  last  chapter  laid 
three  eggs  on  successive  days,  very  punctually  at  about  half- 


Fig.  102.     Great  Herring  Gull  turning  eggs  with  bill,  on  entering  her 
nest. 

past  four  o'clock  in  the  morning.  The  molding  movements 
and  habit  of  sitting  for  a  few  minutes  in  the  nest  were  con- 
tinued until  close  upon  the  time  when  the  first  egg  was  laid  on 
the  27th  of  June.  At  4.40  A.M.,  June  28th,  the  female  was  on 
the  nest  and  came  off  at  4.49  A.M.,  leaving  two  warm  eggs.  In- 
cubation began  early  in  the  afternoon  of  the  second  day.  So 
strong  had  the  instinct  already  become  that  the  bird  even  clung 
to  her  eggs  when  I  climbed  into  her  tree  and  shook  the  limb 
which  held  the  nest.  On  the  third  day,  June  29th,  the  Sparrow 
left  her  nest,  now  containing  three  eggs,  at  4.56  A.M.  At  three 
o'clock  in  the  afternoon  the  sitter  was  absent,  but  three  quarters 
of  an  hour  later,  when  it  was  raining,  the  Sparrow  returned. 


1 7o  Wild  Birds 

On  the  fourth  day  the  incubating  instinct  was  then  fully  de- 
veloped, and  lasted  until  two  of  the  eggs  were  hatched,  on  about 
the  tenth  day  of  July.  The  period  of  incubation  was  approxi- 
mately twelve  days,  and  when  three  days  old  the  eyes  of  the 
little  birds  had  begun  to  open,  and  the  feather-tubes  of  their 
wings  had  appeared.  In  still  another  nest  of  this  Sparrow,  in 
which  two  eggs  only  were  laid,  incubation  did  not  begin  until  the 
third  day. 

For  ages  the  greatest  secrets  of  the  living  world  have  been 
securely  locked  in  the  egg,  and  it  is  only  in  recent  times  that  sci- 
ence, with  any  degree  of  success,  has  succeeded  in  partially  open- 
ing them  to  view.  Development  begins  in  the  warm  body  of  the 
parent  bird,  and  in  most  cases  comes  to  a  stand  the  moment 
the  egg  is  laid.  The  physiological  zero-point  of  temperature  at 
which  no  further  development  takes  place  has  been  accurately 
determined  in  the  domestic  fowl.1  When  heat  is  again  applied 
by  the  brooding  hen  or  the  artificial  incubator  (the  normal 
temperature  for  development  of  the  fowl's  egg  being  about 
103°  F.)  the  engines  of  cell -life  are  again  started,  and  the  won- 
derful process  of  orderly  growth,  with  the  ensuing  changes,  is 
taken  up  anew.  If  the  fires  are  again  banked  and  the  engines 
stopped  by  withdrawal  of  the  heat  for  any  length  of  time,  it  is 
impossible  to  start  them  again,  so  we  kill  the  egg,  and  perhaps 
the  goose  which  might  have  laid  another,  at  the  same  time. 
The  strong  brooding  instinct  in  birds,  which  often  supplants  the 
usually  strong  instinct  of  fear,  is  thus  adapted  to  meet  a  very 
urgent  need. 

The  yolk,  and  later  the  white  or  albumen,  furnishes  a  natural 
store  of  food  and  energy,  which,  like  money  in  the  bank,  can  be 
drawn  upon  by  the  growing  cells  or  embryo,  until,  enclosed  in 
the  stomach  of  the  little  bird,  it  is  gradually  exhausted,  when 
the  latter  is  ready  to  receive  food  from  another  source. 

Owing  to  some  perversity  of  instinct,  the  domestic  fowl  will 

occasionally  eat  its  own  eggs;    wild  birds  often  desert  theirs 

through  fear,  or,  as  more  commonly  happens  with  sea  fowl,  lay 

them  in  places  of  insecurity,  but  as  a  rule  these  fragile  objects 

1  According  to  Professor  C.  L.  Edwards,  this  lies  between  68°  and  70°  F. 


Development  and  Care  of  the  Young     171 


are  treated  with  the  greatest  care.  When  broken  open  they 
are  either  eaten  or  carefully  removed  by  all  birds  which  possess 
the  cleaning  instinct,  an  illustration  of  which  we  have  already 
seen  in  the  Common  Tern.  (See  p.  33.) 

The  Herring  Gull  upon  entering  her  nest  usually  turns  her 
eggs  with  her  bill,  and  if  you  change  their  position  she  will  in- 
variably turn  them 
again.  The  domestic 
hen  stirs  up  her  eggs 
with  her  feet.  There 
is  something  more 
than  the  comfort  of 
the  sitting  bird  in- 
volved in  such  acts, 
for  the  eggs  need 
damping,  and  by  this 
means  each  side  of  the 
egg  is  exposed  to  the 
moisture  of  the  ground 
or  bottom  of  the  nest. 
Then,  in  a  full  nest, 
constant  rolling  tends 
to  equalize  the  distri- 
bution of  warmth, 
bringing  all  the  eggs  Fig  io3  Photomicrograph  of  the  chick  in  the  egg) 

Successively     into     the  at  the  thirty-third  hour  of  incubation.      The  vesicles 

j_        1  /pi  of  the  eyes  and  brain,  the  delicate,  tubular  heart,  and 

LCG-  3  the  primitive  segments  of  the  body  are  plainly  seen. 

turning    is    even    more  Embryo,  one-fifth  inchlong;  enlarged  nearly  ten  times. 

useful    in    preventing 

the  germ  or  embryo  from  sticking  to  the  shell,  a  necessity  recog- 
nized by  the  breeder  of  domestic  fowls,  who  twice  daily  turns 
the  eggs  in  his  incubators. 

The  embryo  appears  first  as  a  thin  disc  on  the  surface  of  the 
yolk,  over  which  it  gradually  spreads  until  the  whole  is  enclosed 
as  within  a  sac.  It  always  lies  uppermost,  next  to  the  warm 
breast  of  the  mother,  for  in  the  first  place  the  egg  is  lightest  at 
its  growing  pole,  and  in  the  second  the  spherical  mass  moves 


172 


Wild  Birds 


freely  in  its  liquid  envelope,  so  that  whenever  the  entire  egg 
is  rolled,  the  yolk,  becoming  top-heavy,  quickly  adjusts  itself, 
always  keeping  right  side  up. 

The  embryo,  which  at  first  rests  upon  the  huge  mass  of  yolk, 
lies  across  the  long  axis  of  the  egg,  but  later  it  gradually  shifts 
to  a  lengthwise  position,  until,  bent  and  twisted,  it  becomes 
compactly  folded  within  the  narrow  confines  of  the  shell. 

In  the  common  fowl  the  heart  begins  to  beat  at  the  begin- 
ning of  the  second  day,  and  earlier  in  most  wild  birds.  A  pro- 
tective water-jacket  is  early 
formed  around  it,  and  a  tem- 
porary "lung"  is  developed. 
The  latter  is  in  the  form  of  a 
thin -walled  sac,  which  closely 
underlies  the  shell.  Mean- 
while an  air-chamber  has 
slowly  made  its  appearance 
at  the  larger  end  of  the  egg, 
between  the  hard  shell  and 
underlying  membrane,  in 
consequence  of  evaporation 
of  the  white ;  into  this  the  bill 
of  the  little  bird  is  unerringly 
thrust,  and  with  its  stout 
spur  or  "egg-tooth"  is  soon 
pressing  against  the  shell. 
Invigorated  by  the  air  which  is  now  drawn  into  the  true  lungs, 
the  chick  presses  hard  against  the  walls  of  its  prison,  and  its 
first  muffled  bleats  are  faintly  heard.  The  egg  is  starred, 
pipped,  and  finally  cracked  open,  usually  into  two  unequal 
halves,  by  a  fissure  extending  around  the  larger  end.  Wet  and 
trembling,  the  little  chick  slowly  crawls  forth  into  the  world 
of  light  and  action,  and  its  new  life  begins. 

The  whole  process  of  development  in  the  egg  is  wonderfully 
rapid,  lasting  from  two  weeks  or  less  in  the  common  land  birds 
to  seven  weeks  in  the  Ostrich. 

The  cast-off  shells  are  carefully  removed  by  many  birds  and 


Fig.  104.  Egg  of  the  Great  Herring  Gull 
with  part  of  the  shell  chipped  away  to  show 
the  chick  inside.  The  bill  is  thrust  into  the 
air-chamber  at  the  larger  end,  and  bears  a 
large  spur  or  "egg-drill."  The  head  is  twisted 
about  so  as  to  lie  under  the  right  wing,  and 
the  remains  of  the  yolk-sac  can  be  seen  be- 
neath the  folded  webbed  feet. 


Development  and  Care  of  the  Young     1 73 

dropped  at  a  distance  from  the  nest,  while  in  others  they  are  dis- 
regarded altogether.  At  an  early  period  of  development  the 
slightest  crack  is  likely  to  addle  the  egg,  but  unless  it  is  actually 
broken  open  it  is  usually  allowed  to  remain  in  the  nest.  Many 
wild  birds  will  "incubate"  stones,  or  addled  eggs,  showing  in 
this  respect  hardly  more  discrimination  than  the  domesticated 
hen,  and  the  Great  Herring  Gull,  after  wasting  much  time  over 
a  barren  egg,  will  often  use  it  as  so  much  building  material  in 
preparing  a  new  nest. 

In  one  instance  I  have  seen  this  Gull  pick  out  the  soft  re- 
spiratory sac  from  the  shells,  and  devour  it  on  the  spot,  a  curious 
and  sporadic  act,  which  is  probably  not  confined  to  this  species. 
It  suggests  the  well-known  and  useful  instinct  in  many  of  the 
higher  mammals  of  eating  all  such  parts  as  might  betray  their 
presence  to  an  enemy. 

II 

BROODING  AND  FEEDING  THE  YOUNG 

When  the  callow  young  are  hatched,  brooding  is  the  order 
of  the  day  as  well  as  of  the  night,  and  in  some  species  the  young 
seem  to  require  this  kind  of  protection  as  much  as  food.  During 
the  first  days  of  life  in  the  nest  it  is  not  easy  to  distinguish  a 
brooding  from  a  sitting  bird,  but  this  is  not  the  case  when  a 
little  later  the  mother  begins  to  rest  her  wings  over  the  rim,  or, 
spreading  wings  and  tail  stands  astride  the  nest  with  back  to 
the  sun.  The  young  must  be  protected  from  heat,  cold,  and 
rain,  and  the  instinct  to  perform  this  duty  is  as  strong  with  old 
birds  as  that  of  bringing  food. 

Cedar  Waxwings  and  Kingbirds  which  I  have  watched, 
brooded  regularly  at  night,  but  I  have  known  young  Robins  to 
be  left  alone  in  the  nest.  Should  the  day  be  cloudy  but  with  no 
rain,  or  sunny  but  not  too  warm,  little  or  no  brooding  has  been 
observed  among  the  various  species  which  I  have  studied,  but 
let  the  sun  bea,t  relentlessly  upon  the  young,  or  the  air  become 
laden  with  moisture,  and  the  faithful  mother  is  promptly  at 
her  post.  I  have  seen  the  Robin  brood  the  young  when  eleven 


Wild  Birds 


days  old  for  forty  minutes  at  a  time,  while  her  mate  brought  an 
abundance  of  food.  As  he  approached  with  an  insect  or  cluster 
of  worms,  she  would  step  aside,  but  immediately  settle  back  on 
the  nest  when  the  food  had  been  safely  disposed  of.  As  a  rule, 
however,  she  would  brood  for  five  or  ten  minutes,  leave  at  the 

approach  of  the 
male,  return 
promptly  with 
food,  and  brood 
until  her  mate 
again  appeared. 
On  several  oc- 
casions I  have 
seen  a  brooding 
bird  leave  the 
nest  when  the 
sun  be  came 
temporarily  ob- 
scured, and  re- 
turn when  the 
clouds  lifted. 
It  was  not  quite 
certain,  how- 
ever, that  the 
element  of 
chance  did  not 
vitiate  the  ob- 
servation. 

While  camped 

beside  a  nest  of  Brown  Thrushes  (see  Figs.  44  and  98),  the 
young  of  which  were  approximately  four  days  old,  the  fe- 
male came  to  the  nest  for  inspection  frequently  on  the  first 
day  of  observation,  and  brooded  intermittently,  but  fed  her 
young  only  once  in  the  space  of  three  and  a  half  hours.  When 
I  frightened  this  bird  off  with  the  hand  thrust  through  the 
tent-window,  she  would  dart  at  it,  scold  emphatically,  but  in 
a  few  moments  return  to  her  brooding  again,  as  if  her  young 


Fig.  105.     The   Chestnut-sided   Warbler  in   her   common 
brooding  attitude. 


Development  and  Care  of  the  Young     175 


required  this  attention  more  than  food.  In  some  cases  the 
chicks  of  the  Great  Herring  Gull  are  not  fed  until  two  or  three 
hours  after  birth.  The  strong  brooding  instinct  of  the  Flicker 
will  be  noticed  later. 

The  Chestnut-sided  Warbler,  who  is  represented  in  many  char- 
acteristic atti- 
tudes about 
the  nest,  was  a 
most  devoted 
brooder  for 
days.  She 
would  stick  to 
her  charge  until 
driven  off  by 
sheer  force  or  by 
hunger.  I  have 
often  seen  her 
drop  down  in 
the  grass,  pick 
up  a  morsel  on 
her  o  wn  ac- 
count,  and  be 
back  to  the  nest 
in  a  fraction  of 
a  second  before 
the  insect  was 
fairly  swal- 
lowed. Again 
she  might  leave 

the  nest  twenty  times  in  the  course  of  an  hour  to  procure  food 
either  for  herself  or  her  children.  Her  mate  would  often  alight 
above  the  nest,  bend  far  down,  and  deliver  the  insects  into  the 
mouth  of  the  brooding  hen,  who  would  promptly  hop  up  and 
give  every  morsel  to  the  young. 

This  little  warbler  would  sometimes  sit  well  down  in  the  nest, 
and  erect  some  of  her  feathers,  and  apparently  innate  the  throat 
so  that  the  bird's  head  appeared  as  if  swollen  to  twice  its 


Fig.  106.      Female  Chestnut-sided  Warble 
brooding  on  a  hot  June  day. 


1 76 


Wild  Birds 


natural  size.  She  made  the  most  comical  picture,  however,  when 
on  a  hot  day  she  stood  or  sat  over  the  young,  with  every  feather 
erect,  as  if  striving  to  keep  them  cool  and  to  be  comfortable 
herself  meanwhile. 

The  female  Kingbird  broods  constantly  when  the  heat  is 

severe,  and  at 
the  approach  of 
the  male  will  of- 
ten assist  in  dis- 
patching unruly 
insects  and  in 
seeing  them 
safely  down  a  re- 
sponsive throat. 
The  persistence 
of  the  Redwing 
Starling  in  this 
line  of  conduct 
is  admirable.  I 
have  seen  one  of 
these  birds  stand 
with  drooping 
wings,  erect 
feathers,  and 
mouth  agape,  in 
the  strong  heat 
of  a  July  day  for 
hours  though 

not  continuously,  for  she  invariably  left  at  the  approach  of  her 
mate  for  a  few  moments'  respite,  and  then  usually  returned 
with  food. 

This  spreading  over  the  young,  often  with  erect  feathers,  has 
been  witnessed  in  Blackbirds,  Flycatchers,  Warblers,  and  Cedar- 
birds  (see  Figs.  10,  34,  108),  but,  so  far  as  I  am  aware,  it  had 
never  been  described  until  the  former  publication  of  this  work. 
So  common  a  practice  must,  however,  have  been  often  observed, 
yet  I  was  somewhat  surprised  to  find  that  it  had  been  noticed 


Fig.  107.     The  same  brooding  bird,  with  feathers  partially 
erect  and  the  throat  inflated. 


Development  and  Care  of  the  Young     177 

by  the  early  Egyptians  more  than  4000  years  ago,  and  was  de- 
picted by  their  artists  on  the  walls  of  many  tombs  at  Sakkara 
and  elsewhere  in  Egypt.  Moreover,  their  birds  are  usually 


Fig.  108.     Female  Kingbird  astride  nest  with  drooping  half-spread  wings,  shielding 
her  brood  from  the  hot  sun.      Notice  the  characteristic  attitude  of  the  young. 

represented  as  resting  on  the  whole  shank  or  proper  foot,  as  is 
often  the  case  (Fig.  109). 

After  taking  a  bath,  it  is  the  custom  of  many  species,  like 
Pelicans,  waders,  and  birds  of  prey,  to  spread  in  a  similar  man- 
ner to  dry  off,  as  may  be  seen  in  any  zoological  garden,  but 
many  are  inordinately  fond  of  the  sun-bath  alone,  and  the  hotter 
the  day  the  better  they  seem  to  enjoy  it.  I  have  seen  the  re- 
markable Shoebill  Crane  or  Whale -headed  Stork  in  the  gardens 


1 78 


Wild  Birds 


at  Cairo,  sitting  on  the  grass  in  the  blaze  of  an  African  sun,  with 
full-spread  wings,  in  the  attitude  depicted  on  the  Egyptian 
tombs,  when  shade  in  plenty  was  close  at  hand. 

Again,  at  Lucerne,  Switzerland,  on  a  hot  day  in  July,  I 
saw  a  female  Thrush  (Merula  atra),  the  first  cousin  of  the 
American  Robin,  lie  stretched  out  in  the  sun,  on  a  bare  patch  of 
earth  in  a  garden,  not  far  from  its  nest,  with  wings  spread  and 


Fig.  109.  The  earliest  pictures  of  the  home-life  of  birds.  Detail  from  hunt- 
ing scene  in  marshes  on  the  Nile,  from  the  tomb  of  Mereruka,  at  Sakkara, 
Egypt,  over  4000  years  old.  Birds  are  nesting  in  the  papyrus  reeds,  and  a 
pair  are  defending  their  young  from  the  threatened  attack  of  a  mongoose. 
Notice  that  the  birds  sit  on  their  saucer-shaped  nests,  and  "spread  "  as  they 
do  when  taking  a  sun-bath. 


feathers  on  end,  for  two  or  three  minutes  at  a  time,  and  then  go 
to  a  branch  and  preen.  This  was  repeated  four  times  in  succes- 
sion, the  sun-bath  lasting  from  two  to  three  minutes  each  time, 
and  the  bird  always  going  to  precisely  the  same  spot.  The  same 
act  was,  -moreover,  observed  on  successive  days.  It  is  there- 
fore suggested  that  the  spreading  is  a  typical  reflex  (see  Chapter 
XIII.),  or  motor  response  to  heat,  and  that  it  is  not  necessarily 
a  signal  of  distress.  The  return  to  the  same  place  day  after  day 
to  sun  or  dust  the  feathers,  or  to  favorite  perches  to  preen  or 


Development  and  Care  of  the  Young     179 

devour  the  prey,   are  only  additional  illustrations  of  the  force 
of  habit.     (See  Chapter  XIII.,  n.) 

While  possessed  by  the  incubation  or  brooding  spirit  many 
birds,  as  is  well  known,  are  indifferent  to  danger  and  will  hug 
their  eggs  at  any  cost.  In  this  respect  few  can  excel  the  "tame 
villagic  fowl,"  who  displays  greater  docility  than  most  wild 
birds,  lor  they  rarely  sit  on  an  empty  nest,  and  have  been  known 
to  reject  strange  eggs.  The  hen  will  peck  vigorously  at  the  in- 


Fig.  no.    Great  Herring  Gull  yawning,  while  engaged  in  the  prosaic  task  of 
incubation. 

truder,  and  if  hustled  off  the  nest  will  soon  return.  Some  birds, 
like  Song  Sparrows  and  Brown  Thrushes,  will  remain  immovable 
as  if  hiding  until  you  come  dangerously  near,  when  they  glide 
off  silently,  but  usually  remain  quiet  for  a  moment  only.  The 
Robin  flies  off  in  a  passion.  The  Tropic  Bird  fights  but  sticks 
to  her  egg.  The  Woodpeckers  are  close  sitters  and  may  be 
taken  in  the  hand,  as  we  shall  see  later.  A  Chickadee  which  I 
worried  with  a  straw  would  peck  angrily  at  it,  but  remained  on 
the  nest.  The  Cedar-birds  retire  in  silence.  In  this  state  birds 
become  passive  merely  through  the  temporary  suppression  of 
the  sense  of  fear. 


i8o 


Wild  Birds 


The  Cedar-bird  gapes  persistently  when  uncomfortably 
warm,  but  only  the  crest  feathers  are  ever  erected,  and  then  not 
to  the  extent  usually  shown  in  drawings  of  this  species.  Both 
Robins  and  Catbirds  bristle  up  when  their  nests  and  well- 
fledged  young  are  assailed,  and  general  erection  of  the  feathers 
may  be  occasionally  seen  in  the  brooding  bird,  but  their  emotion 
is  usually  expressed  by  raising  the  feathers  of  the  crown. 

While  the  practice  of  gaping  is  as  common  with  many  birds 
as  with  the  dog,  comparatively  few,  of  which  I  can  now  mention 


Fig.  in.  The  eggs  of  the  Cedar  Waxwing,  and  its  young  in  various  instinctive  at- 
titudes  when  about  a  day  old.  "  Rising  upon  its  pliant  stomach  as  upon  a  pillar,  with 
neck  up-stretched  and  trembling  like  a  tuning-fork,  it  opens  wide  its  mouth.  Press  the 
button,  and  up  goes  its  head  again  and  again,  until  fatigue  comes  to  its  aid."  Nearly 
one  half  life-size. 

with  certainty  only  the  Pelican  and  the  Gull  (Fig.  no),  are 
capable  of  indulging  in  a  genuine  yawn.  In  this  act  the  Gull 
derives  the  same  sort  of  relief  as  dog  or  man,  and  is  no  more 
graceful  in  its  performance.  At  the  close  of  expiration  in  the 
gull  the  throat  expands,  and  the  tongue,  which  is  up-raised, 
draws  with  it  the  larynx,  and  thus  gives  free  passage  to  the  air. 

The  duty  of  brooding  rests  mainly  with  the  female  in  our 
common  land  birds,  but  the  male  in  some  species  either  regu- 
larly or  intermittently  takes  his  turn  at  the  nest. 

Passerine  birds  feed  their  young  at  brief  intervals  from  early 
morning  until  nightfall,  but  apparently  seldom  if  ever  after 
dark.  The  Night  Hawk,  as  has  been  seen,  broods  by  day,  and 


Development  and  Care  of  the  Young     181 

feeds  its  young  at  dusk,  or  just  after  dark,  and  probably  again 
at  dawn.  Both  sexes  usually  share  in  bringing  food  to  the  nest, 
but  this  rule  is  by  no  means  universal. 

The  young  require  animal  food  during  the  early  days  of  life, 
and  in  the  interior  of  the  country  this  consists  mainly  of  insects  in 
the  larval  or  mature  stages,  spiders,  earthworms  (at  least  in  the 
Robin),  and  possibly  slugs.  Even  snakes  and  frogs,  to  which 
Hawks  and  other  birds  of  prey  devote  much  attention,  no  doubt 
at  times  fall  a  prey  to  smaller  adversaries.  In  the  hills  above 
Lucerne,  Switzerland,  on  the  tenth  of  July  I  once  surprised  a 
Thrush  (Merula  atra)  hammering  at  a  small  snake.  The  ani- 
mal, when  whole,  measured  only  seven  inches  in  length,  and 
this  bird  had  already  cut  off  two  inches  of  its  tail,  which  was 
possibly  intended  for  its  young.  Aside  from  the  habits  of  the 
adult,  the  nature  of  the  food  brought  depends  much  upon  the 
character  of  the  supply.  If  food  is  plenty  a  wide  choice  is 
possible,  but  at  the  pinch  of  hard  times  every  rule  is  broken 
and  nothing  is  refused.  When  the  Kingfisher  finds  crayfish 
abundant  they  are  carried  to  the  nest,  and  this  species  has  also 
been  known  to  go  to  the  fields  for  insects.  Along  the  coast 
various  other  invertebrates  undoubtedly  contribute  to  the  food 
supply  of  both  young  and  adult  birds  of  many  species.  Birds 
which  never  taste  of  fruit  themselves  naturally  do  not  give  it 
to  their  young,  while  Robins,  Orioles,  Vireos,  and  Waxwings,  to 
mention  but  a  few  of  the  berry -pickers,  vary  the  diet  of  their 
fledglings  with  a  liberal  supply  of  fruits  of  various  kinds. 

The  food  is  placed  not  simply  in  the  mouth  of  the  young  but 
well  down  into  the  sensitive  throat,  and  if  the  bird  does  not 
immediately  respond,  it  is  withdrawn  and  passed  to  another, 
and  often  to  a  third,  until  a  throat  is  found  which  has  the  proper 
reaction  time.  If  the  gullet  is  already  full,  the  swallowing 
reflex  is  inhibited,  and  the  bird  must  wait.  If  the  experiment 
of  feeding  a  young  bird  like  a  Robin  at  the  nes.t  is  tried,  it  will 
be  found  that  the  food  passes  slowly  down  the  oesophagus,  and 
when  this  is  filled  no  more  can  be  taken  until  the  channel  is  clear. 
The  gullet  thus  acts  as  a  brake  to  the  tendency  of  the  greedy 
young  bird  to  gorge  itself  to  suffocation.  Cedar-birds,  however, 


182 


Wild  Birds 


according  to  Audubon,  will  sometimes  eat  to  such  excess  as  to 
be  unable  to  fly,  and  a  number  of  wounded  birds  of  this  species 
which  he  kept  in  a  cage  ate  of  apples  until  suffocated.  When 
opened  they  were  found  to  be  filled  to  the  mouth. 

The  automatic  response  given  by  the  young  is  the  signal 
awaited  by  the  old  bird,  though  often  with  impatience.     The 


Fig.  us.    Female  Redwing  Blackbird  placing  food  in  the  throat  of 
a  nestling. 

insect,  after  being  placed  in  a  nestling's  throat,  is  watched  until 
it  disappears.  Should  it  stick  at  the  gullet  it  is  withdrawn  and 
replaced  time  and  again,  or  given  a  gentle  pull,  until  it  is  safely 
down.  Sometimes  the  insect  is  deprived  of  its  legs  or  wings, 
bruised  against  a  twig,  beaten  into  a  pulp,  or  crushed  and  torn 
asunder  between  the  bills  of  the  parent  birds  before  it  can  be 
safely  delivered.  As  has  already  been  seen,  many  birds  utter  a 
peculiar  note  as  a  special  stimulus  to  the  young.  At  such  times 


Development  and  Care  of  the  Young     183 

even  the  silent  Cedar-bird  finds  a  voice  and  gives  an  impatient 
cheet !  If  this  premonitory  call  passes  unheeded  it  becomes  ex- 
tremely shrill,  especially  in  Kingbirds,  with  whom  failure  on 
the  part  of  their  young  to  quick  response  seems  to  be  peculiarly 
exasperating. 

While  watching  a  Kingbird's  nest  from  the  tent,  a  moth 


Fig.  113.  The  same  bird  watching  the  food  in  the  throat.  If  not 
immediately  swallowed,  the  insect  is  withdrawn  and  passed  around 
until  a  bird  with  the  proper  reaction  time  is  found. 

miller  was  once  brought  in  by  the  male.  It  was  passed  to  each 
one  of  the  young  in  turn,  but  even  under  the  spur  of  his  shrill 
chitter  they  were  unresponsive,  and  he  devoured  the  prey 
himself.  This  sharp  economy  is  often  practiced  at  the  nest, 
and  I  have  even  seen  the  leg  of  a  grasshopper  picked  up  and 
eaten  by  an  old  bird.  Not  a  crumb  is  allowed  to  go  to  waste. 
If  an  insect  gets  away  it  is  usually  pursued  and  immediately 
snapped  up.  Once,  however,  I  saw  a  female  Kingbird  fooled  by 


1 84 


Wild  Birds 


a  fiy  who  owed  its  life  to  its  small  size.  As  she  opened  her  bill 
in  her  attempt  to  land  it  safely  in  an  open  throat,  the  fly  darted 
off.  The  bird  seemed  dazed  for  a  moment,  and  stood  gazing  at 
the  departing  fly  as  if  in  mute  astonishment. 

Exciting  scenes  usually  follow  at  the  nest  of  the  Kingbird 


Fig.  114.     Kingbirds  bruising  a  too  active  grasshopper  between  their  bills  prepara- 
tory to  serving  it  to  the  young  :  the  female  in  front  with  tail  full-spread. 

when  a  large  dragon-fly,  cicada,  or  grampus  is  brought  to  the 
family  circle.  The  insect  often  struggles  hard,  but  escape  is 
out  of  the  question,  especially  with  both  birds  at  the  nest,  who 
at  once  begin  to  rend  and  crush  it  with  their  bills. 

The  male  grampus  (Corydalus  cornutus),  better  known  as  the 
larval  hellgamite  of  which  black  bass  are  sometimes  extremely 
fond,  has  long  gray  wings  folded  back  over  the  body  when  at 


Development  and  Care  of  the  Young     185 

rest,  and  the  head  is  armed  with  horns  an  inch  long  but  formi- 
dable only  in  their  appearance.     I  have  seen  these  huge  insects 


Fig.  115.  Brown  Thrush  feeding  a  nestling.  "  The  food  is  placed 
not  simply  in  the  mouth  of  the  young,  but  well  down  into  the  sensi- 
tive throat." 

measuring  four  inches  from  tip  of  the  jaws  to  the  extremities  of 
the  folded  wings  fed  to  a  single  bird,  and  they  were  swallowed 
— wings  and  all.  The  operation  is  shown  at  an  incomplete 
stage  in  figure  116,  where  the  wings  of  the  grampus  can  be 


1 86 


Wild  Birds 


seen  projecting  an  inch  or  more  from  the  mouth  of  the  strug- 
gling bird. 

The  cicada  is  even  tougher  and  harder  to  manage,  but  is 

beaten  into  sub- 
ject i  o  n  ,  and 
served  up  in  a 
limp  condition. 
One  day  in  Au- 
gust I  watched 
a  street  combat 
between  one  of 
these  cicadae 
and  a  House 
Sparrow.  The 
insect  was 
bounding  up 
and  down  on 
the  ground  and 
sounding  its 
crescendo  at  an 
alarming  rate, 
but  unable  to 
avoid  the  blows 
which  rained 
from  the  Spar- 
row's bill.  As 
the  music  of  the 
dying  cicada  fi- 
nally ceased,  the 
Sparrow  picked 
up  his  victim 
and  bore  it  off 
to  his  brood. 
Ill 

GROWTH    OF   THE    NESTLING 

The  phenomenal  growth  of  the  young  bird  at  the  nest  will  be 
appreciated  when  we  reflect  that  in  two  weeks  it  increases  in 


Fig.  116.  Female  Kingbird  assisting  a  grampus  down  the 
throat  of  a  nestling.  The  long  gray  wings  of  this  insect  are 
protruding  from  the  mouth. 


Development  and  Care  of  the  Young     187 


weight  twelve-fold;  it  develops  keen  senses  and  complex  in- 
stincts, acquires  a  serviceable  and  comely  dress,  and  is  ready  for 
flight. 

This  was  well  illustrated  by  a  nest  of  four  Cedar-birds,  one 
of  which  hatched  _ 
in  my  hand  on 
the  twelfth  day 
of  August;  three 
which  lived  to 
grow  up  we  re 
weighe  d  and 
measured  daily 
for  a  p  e  r  i  o  d  of 
fifteen  days,  from 
birth  to  the  time 
of  flight.  The 
eggs  from  which 
these  birds  were 
born  were  nearly 
of  the  same  size 
and  weight  (a  t 
time  of  hatching 
weighing  38^ 
grains  or  nearly 
TV  ounce  ),  but 
by  the  end  of  the 
first  day  marked 
differences  in  rate 
of  growth  had  ap- 
peared, and  were 
constantly  main- 
tained. 

The  weight   of 

the  most  vigorous  nestling  was  doubled  on  the  first  day,  more 
than  trebled  on  the  second,  and  nearly  quadrupled  on  the  third. 
On  the  twelfth  day,  when  it  weighed  approximately  one  and  one 
fifth  ounces,  and  had  increased  in  weight  thirteen-fold,  it  left 


Male  grampus,  Corydalus  cormitus  :  full  size, 


1 88  Wild  Birds 

the  nest.  When  captured  at  the  age  of  fifteen  days,  it  had 
grown  one  half  inch  in  length,  but  had  lost  one  twelfth  of  an 
ounce  in  weight. 

The  next  in  point  of  vigor  increased  twelve  times  in  weight, 
or  on  the  fifteenth  day  attained  the  stage  reached  by  the  first 
bird  when  from  eight  to  nine  days  old.  Nestling  number  three 
increased  eleven  times  in  weight  in  the  same  period.  The 
horizontal  slits  of  the  eyes  opened  on  the  fifth  day  in  the  first 
bird;  at  a  week  old  the  feather-tubes  had  burst  all  over  the 
body  excepting  the  quills  of  the  wings  and  tail  which  began 
to  emerge  from  their  horny  sheaths  on  the  eighth  day,  and 
on  the  twelfth  day  the  first  unmistakable  signs  of  fear  were 
exhibited. 

At  a  corresponding  rate  of  growth  a  ten-pound  baby,  when 
one  day  old,  would  weigh  twenty -one  pounds,  and  at  the  age  of 
twelve  days  one  hundred  and  thirty -four  pounds. 

From  the  first  to  the  fifteenth  day  the  strongest  of  the  three 
birds  had  increased  in  length  nearly  three  times  (measurements, 
if  and  5i  inches). 

IV 

CLEANING    THE    NEST 

The  sanitary  condition  of  the  young  is  a  matter  of  great  con- 
cern to  most  birds,  who  as  a  class  are  extremely  neat  and  clean. 
This  is  especially  true  of  the  many  species  breeding  in  holes  or 
cavities  of  any  kind  like  the  Woodpeckers  and  Chickadees,  the 
young  of  which  are  crowded  in  close  quarters  or  even  piled 
up  in  more  than  one  layer.  The  Woodpecker's  hole  and  the 
Bluebird's  nest  are  always  sweet  and  clean,  and  the  nestlings 
immaculate. 

The  duty  of  inspection  and,  if  necessary,  nest-cleaning 
follows  each  feeding  with  clock-like  regularity,  and  is  one  of  the 
most  characteristic  and  important  activities  to  be  observed  in 
the  nesting  habits  of  a  large  number  of  the  smaller  land  birds, 
yet  apparently  it  is  not  mentioned  in  the  standard  treatises  of 
ornithology,  and  I  have  found  but  few  references  to  it  in  works 


Development  and  Care  of  the  Young     189 

of  any  kind.1  Audubon,  who  has  probably  recorded  more  facts 
on  the  behavior  of  American  birds  than  any  other  writer,  does 
not,  I  believe,  mention  this  important  function.  The  reason  is 
not  far  to  seek,  for  without  the  possibility  of  close  approach  to 
the  nest,  and  the  use  of  a  convenient  blind,  such  acts  are  difficult 
or  impossible  to  observe. 

The  instinct  of  inspecting  and  cleaning  the  nest  is  mainly 
confined  to  the  great  passerine  and  picarian  orders  represented 
in  this  country  by  hundreds  of  species.  It  is  a  well-marked 
trait  in  Thrushes,  Waxwings,  Vireos,  Warblers,  Orioles,  Black- 
birds, Woodpeckers,  Wrens,  and  Titmice,  to  mention  those 
families  in  which  it  has  been  regularly  observed.  Gulls  and 
Terns,  however,  possess  the  cleaning  instinct  in  a  minor  degree, 
as  I  have  observed  on  one  or  two  occasions. 

The  excreta  of  the  young  of  most  land  birds  leave  the  cloaca 
in  the  form  of  white,  opaque  or  transparent,  mucous  sacs.  The 
sac  is  probably  secreted  at  the  lower  end  of  the  alimentary  canal, 
and  is  sufficiently  consistent  to  admit  of  being  picked  up  without 
soiling  bill  or  fingers.  The  parent  birds  often  leave  the  nest 
hurriedly  bearing  one  of  these  small  white  packages  in  bill,  an 
action  full  of  significance  to  every  member  of  the  family.  I 
have  seen  the  Oriole  carry  these  packages  a  few  rods  from  the 
nest  and  drop  them  before  alighting.  The  Bluebird  and  Red- 
wing Blackbird  take  them  a  long  distance  before  letting  them 
fall.  Crow  Blackbirds  sometimes  drop  them  in  the  water,  and 
House  Wrens  and  Nuthatches  implant  them  on  the  bark  of 
trees. 

Removing  the  excreta  piecemeal  and  dropping  it  at  a  safe 
distance  is  the  common  instinctive  method  not  only  of  ensuring 
the  sanitary  condition  of  the  nest  itself,  but,  what  is  even  more 
important,  of  keeping  the  grass  and  leaves  below  free  from  any 
sign  which  might  betray  them  to  an  enemy. 

Many  other  birds,  of  which  I  can  now  certify  the  Robin, 
Catbird,  Cedar  Waxwing,  Red-eyed  and  Warbling  Vireos,  King- 
bird, Redwing  Blackbird,  Brown  Thrush,  Chickadee,  and 

1  See  the  original  and  excellent  Researches  in  Zoology,  by  John  Black- 
wall,  2d  Ed.,  London,  1873. 


190 


Wild  Birds 


Chestnut-sided  Warbler,  devour  a  part  and  often  the  major 
part  of  the  excreta  at  the  nest.  This  is  a  very  common  practice 

with  the  War- 
bler, Robin, 
Waxwing,  and 
Vireos,  but  was 
only  casually 
observed  in  the 
others. 

The  Robin 
hasundoubtedly 
been  seen  b  y 
many  in  the 
characteristi  c 
pose  shown  in  a 
number  of  the 
photographs, 
standing  on  the 
rim  of  the  nest 
with  the  head 
erect,  or  inclined 
as  if  doting  on 
her  young  ones 
and  thinking 
what  fine  child- 
Fig.  118.  A  common  scene  at  nest  of  the  Chestnut-sided  ren  they  Were, 
'Warbler.  The  male  brings  food,  while  his  mate,  who  is  i  pac  fVii<;  at 

brooding,  receives  it  into  her  own  bill  and  passes  it  on  to  the        Wn 

children.  titude   is   really 

one  of  sanitary 

inspection.  When  an  old  bird  of  any  of  the  species  mentioned 
above  has  fed  one  of  the  brood,  its  duty  is  but  half  done;  it 
pauses,  bends  over,  and  keenly  scrutinizes  each  young  bird  in  turn 
and  every  part  of  the  nest.  Shortly  after  being  fed,  the  nestling 
becomes  very  uneasy,  and  raises  its  body  as  if  to  drop  the  sac  over 
the  edge  of  the  nest.  The  old  bird  follows  every  movement,  snaps 
up  the  package  as  it  leaves  the  body,  and  either  swallows  it  im- 
mediately or  carries  it  off.  When  seen  flying  from  the  nest  with 


Development  and  Care  of  the  Young     191 


head  depressed,  the  Robin  is  usually  engaged  in  errands  of  this 
kind.  The  Robins  and  Cedar-birds  have  frequently  been  seen  to 
take  the  sacs  from  two  or  three  birds  in  rapid  succession,  in  which 
case  they  are  always  devoured  on  the  spot.  The  Robin  will 
often  convey  the  package  to 
any  convenient  perch,  and, 
after  examining  it,  devour  a 
part,  or  reject  the  whole.  While 
watching  Robins  from  the  tent, 
I  have  seen  them  carry  the  ex- 
creta thirty  rods  away  before 
letting  it  fall  or  alighting  to  ex- 
amine it,  and  have  tried  to  find 
the  sac  but  usually  without 
success.  One  day  I  saw  a 
male  Robin  drop  the  "white 
marble  "  in  the  grass  about  fifty 
feet  from  the  nest,  and  proceed 
to  peck  at  it.  Upon  going  to 
the  spot  a  little  later  I  found 
the  sac  covered  with  dirt  but 

not  opened.  It  had  a  tenacious  opaque  white  wall,  was  per- 
fectly odorless,  and  contained,  besides  a  few  small  pellets,  a 
whole  blueberry  which  had  survived  the  digestive  process.  The 
actions  of  the  old  bird  were  thus  explained.  He  was  looking 
for  food  on  his  own  account,  but  in  this  case  missed  it. 

Not  only  are  the  young  carefully  tended  in  the  way  ex- 
plained, but  the  old  birds  often  put  the  head  down  in  the  nest 
and  rummage  about  for  any  stray  particle  of  food  or  fragments 
of  any  kind  which  it  is  desirable  to  remove.  While  standing  at 
the  nest  they  will  sometimes  pick  energetically  their  own  legs 
and  toes,  and  the  heads  and  bodies  of  the  young,  a  very  im- 
portant function  where  the  nest  is  infested  with  those  minute 
swarming  particles  known  as  lice  and  mites.  Every  straw  and 
fiber  in  the  Cedar-bird's  nest  shown  in  one  of  the  photographs 
(Fig.  50)  was  literally  covered  with  parasites,  in  this  case  a 
species  of  mite  which  is  a  poor  and  degenerate  relation  of  the 


Fig.  119.     Flicker  cleaning  the  nest. 


192 


Wild  Birds 


spider.  When  the  nest  or  anything  in  it  was  touched  they  would 
swarm  up  the  hand  by  hundreds,  but  they  are  barely  visible 
to  the  eye,  and  apart  from  a  slight  tickling  sensation  between  the 


Brown  Thrush  cleaning  the  nest. 


fingers  are  scarcely  felt.  They  do  not  seem  to  trouble  the  old 
birds  much,  but  must  give  discomfort  to  the  young,  especially 
if  from  any  other  cause  they  happen  to  be  weakly. 

The  cleaning  of  the  young  and  nest  is  instinctive  in  a  very 
large  number  of  birds,  and  so  also  is  the  care  with  which  they 


Development  and  Care  of  the  Young     193 

avoid  any  defilement  of  the  nesting  site.  The  use  of  the  excreta 
as  food,  however,  is  not  to  be  regarded  as  due  to  inheritance. 

Much  light  is  thrown  on  this  question  by  the  behavior  of  the 
Chestnut-sided  Warblers,  whose  habits  will  be  referred  to  again 
in  the  concluding  chapter.  Both  sexes  in  this  case  fed,  brooded, 
and  cleaned  the  young  and  nest.  The  male  regularly  removed 
the  excreta  but  was  never  seen  to  eat  it.  The  female  on  the 
contrary  often  ate  of  it,  and  brooded  so  constantly  that  she  was 
obliged  to  leave  the  nest  to  satisfy  her  own  hunger.  She  would 
often  be  back  in  half  a  minute,  having  taken  only  a  bite  as  it 
were.  When  the  female  had  received  the  food  which  her  mate 
supplied  and  had  seen  it  safely  delivered,  she  would  inspect, 
devour  everything  which  needed  removal,  and  then  continue  to 
brood.  If  a  sac  should  accidentally  fall,  she  would  snap  it  off 
the  ground,  return  to  the  nest,  and  brood  as  before.  At  other 
times  when  the  male  approached  she  would  stand  aside  and 
allow  him  to  deliver  the  food  and  make  the  inspection.  Twice 
I  saw  the  male  take  a  sac  to  carry  it  away,  and  the  female  snatch 
it  from  him,  swallow  it,  and  settle  down  on  the  nest.  Again 
another  sac  was  torn  asunder,  and  each  bird  went  off  with  a 
half  in  its  bill.  In  a  moment  the  female  returned  but  without 
bringing  food,  showing  that  she  had  been  satisfying  her  own 
hunger.  This  not  only  proves  that  the  excreta  is  used  as  food 
but  illustrates  how  the  habit  of  eating  it  may  be  forced  upon  a 
hungry  brooding  bird. 

Since  digestion  in  the  young  is  an  imperfect  process  at  best, 
it  is  easy  to  understand  how  any  kind  of  pre-digested  or  partly 
digested  food  might  be  acceptable  in  times  of  stress  when  the 
staple  article  was  not  easy  to  procure.  The  fact  that  a  bird 
only  casually  devours  a  pellet  or  swallows  one  and  removes  an- 
other is  easy  to  understand.  It  is  a  question  of  the  hunger  of 
the  moment,  and  another  illustration  of  the  economy  which 
birds  display  in  all  such  matters. 

While  the  removal  of  the  excreta  is  an  instinctive  act,  the 
use  of  it  as  food  is  probably  an  acquired  habit,  the  strength 
of  which  depends  on  the  force  of  circumstances,  and  may  be 

limited  in  some  cases  to  one  sex  alone. 
13 


CHAPTER  XIII 

LIFE  AND  INSTINCT 
I 

FROM  the  earliest  times  the  activities  of  animals  or  what 
they  do  has  been  a  subject  of  universal  interest,  yet  until 
recently  accurate  knowledge  of  animal  behavior  has  made  little 
progress,  considering  the  richness  of  the  field  which  is  offered 
to  the  student,  its  singular  attractions,  and  ever  present  oppor- 
tunities. 

It  is  easy,  however,  to  understand  why  popular  interest  in 
natural  history  has  not  advanced  our  knowledge  of  animal  life 
in  a  greater  degree.  The  successful  study  of  animal  behavior 
requires  continuous  and  exact  observation,  often  extending  over 
considerable  periods  of  time,  not  to  speak  of  thorough  training 
in  the  natural  sciences.  It  is  true  that  in  the  analysis  of  the 
most  elementary  phenomena  of  life  and  action  biology  has  not 
advanced  beyond  the  stage  of  description  and  suggestion,  but 
this  should  serve  as  an  incentive  to  even  greater  care  in  experi- 
ment and  observation  in  so  wide  and  difficult  a  field.  In  the 
study  of  behavior  there  is  certainly  no  danger  of  exaggerating 
the  importance  of  scientific  method.  If  only  as  a  balance- 
wheel  to  speculation,  both  anatomy  and  physiology  can  do 
good  service  for  the  student  of  the  animal  mind. 

The  modern  method  of  studying  animals  is  to  go  to  nature 
direct,  to  experiment,  and  to  use  every  means  which  promises 
to  yield  valuable  returns. 

If  the  observer  is  properly  equipped,  he  should  be  able  to 
ascertain  the  facts  and  conditions  of  animal  life  with  a  fair  de- 
gree of  accuracy,  but  when  he  attempts  to  analyze  his  facts  the 

194 


Life  and  Instinct  195 

difficulties  grow  apace.  From  the  operation  of  our  own  minds 
we  infer  by  analogy  what  takes  place  in  the  minds  of  animals, — 
a  form  of  reasoning  which  is  apt  to  lead  us  astray,  but  since  it  is 
possible  to  study  animal  life  only  objectively  and  as  it  were  at  a 
distance,  such  a  course  is  in  some  degree  inevitable.  It  is  best, 
therefore,  not  to  press  analogies  farther  than  the  observed  facts 
will  warrant.  A  good  rule  is  to  discard  second-hand  informa- 
tion, and  to  remember  that  isolated,  disconnected,  and  therefore 
imperfect  observations  are  often  a  fruitful  source  of  false  ideas. 
We  must  further  guard  against  the  popular  tendency  of  reading 
into  the  actions  of  animals  the  whole  gamut  of  human  feeling 
and  capacity,  that  fatal  pitfall  which  claims  so  many  incautious 
writers. 

Life  implies  action  and  movement,  and  response  is  its  most 
striking  characteristic.  The  study  of  the  animal  which  re- 
sponds, and  of  the  theater  of  its  response — the  world  about  it, — 
leads  up  to  the  most  interesting  if  not  most  important  study  of 
all — the  activities  or  behavior  of  the  'living,  going  machine,' 
and  to  the  successful  interpretation  of  behavior  every  science 
must  be  made  to  contribute. 

That  the  movements  of  living  things,  unlike  those  of  arti- 
ficial machines,  are  mainly  adaptive,  or  that  they  tend  to  pro- 
mote their  welfare  or  that  of  their  offspring,  cannot  be  denied. 
In  some  cases  the  responses  of  the  higher  animals  are  without 
doubt  useless  or  indifferent,  but  it  is  obvious  that  in  all  important 
matters  they  cannot  persist  in  a  harmful  course  without  serious 
results. 

Every  animal  at  birth  inherits  with  its  bodily  organs  the 
power  to  use  them  in  a  more  or  less  definite  way,  and  all  the 
higher  animals,  as  far  down  the  scale  as  the  insects  at  least, 
learn  to  do  things  in  the  course  of  their  lives,  and  thus  display 
a  form  of  memory.  Their  equipment  therefore  embraces:  (i) 
unlearned  or  inherited  powers,  and  (2)  learned  or  acquired 
abilities,  which  are  the  results  of  experience — often  very  bitter. 
The  animal's  powers,  in  other  words,  consist  of  free  gifts  at  its 
start  in  life,  and  of  later  acquisitions  gained  through  its  own 
efforts  in  the  struggle  for  existence. 


196  Wild  Birds 

All  animals,  moreover,  test  their  surroundings  by  a  method 
of  trial,  and  error  or  success,  but  differ  amazingly  in  the  ability 
to  profit  by  the  experiences  thus  gained.  The  lower  forms  act 
quickly,  but  with  great  uniformity;  consequently  they  stumble 
through  life  until  they  finally  pay  the  penalty  of  their  mistakes 
and  inability  to  learn.  The  higher  animals  make  the  same  tests, 
but  apply  the  knowledge  thus  gained  by  varying  their  conduct 
to  meet  the  needs  of  the  moment.  They  control  their  actions, 
exercise  choice,  and  display  originality,  all  of  which  are  marks 
of  intelligence. 

In  the  catalogue  of  inherited  powers,  the  first  place  (i)  should 
be  reserved  for  all  the  general  responses  or  physiological  prop- 
erties of  living  things, — the  activities  of  the  cells,  upon  which 
the  life  and  growth  of  the  body  depend ;  to  these  must  be  added 
(2)  those  direct,  and  remarkably  uniform  responses  of  lower 
organisms  to  light,  gravity,  pressure,  and  other  forms  of  energy, 
which  determine  their  orientation  or  general  movements,  and 
may  be  called  trial  movements,  or  tropisms,  as  well  as  the  closely 
allied  (3)  reflex  actions,  or  motor  responses,  and  (4)  the  still 
closely  related  but  more  complicated  and  more  variable  re- 
sponses, to  which  the  name  instinct  has  been  applied.  In  the 
voluntary  or  intelligent  response,  which  is  far  more  variable  than 
instinct,  and  often  very  complex,  we  pass  the  boundary  line  be- 
tween hereditary  possession  and  individual  attainment. 

The  trial  movements,  or  tropisms,  play  a  great  role  in  the 
life  of  the  lower  animals  and  plants,  and  physiologists  have 
shown  that  many  actions  formerly  ascribed  to  instinct  can  be 
resolved  into  a  series  of  simpler  tropisms  (or  reflexes,  in  the  wider 
sense),  the  number  of  which  is  very  great.  Even  the  lowest 
beings  in  the  living  world  respond  to  light  and  other  forms  of 
energy  in  a  very  definite  way,  and  the  kind  of  response  depends 
not  alone  upon  the  nature  and  intensity  of  the  exciting  force,  but 
upon  the  condition  of  the  animal  or  plant  as  well,  or  the  at- 
tunement  of  their  bodies  at  a  particular  time. 

In  the  nocturnal  habits  of  the  earthworm  we  have  an  ex- 
cellent illustration  of  response  to  an  external  force.  It  remains 
in  its  dark  burrow  by  day,  and  issues  forth  in  the  darkness  of 


Life  and  Instinct  197 

night  to  feed.  When  stimulated  by  the  light  of  returning  dawn, 
it  retires  again  to  its  darkened  subterranean  chambers.  Ex- 
periment has  shown  that  the  worm  responds  to  light  of  a  certain 
intensity,  even  crawling  away  from  the  light  of  a  dull  day,  but 
towards  the  much  feebler  light  of  an  ordinary  night.  Such 
movements,  which  were  formerly  assigned  to  instinct,  are  thus 
seen  to  be  prescribed  by  the  direction  and  intensity  of  the  rays 
of  light.  That  such  responses  are  adaptive,  or  useful,  is  shown 
by  the  fact  that  it  is  only  "the  early  bird"  that  catches  this 
worm. 

The  attraction  of  the  candle  for  the  moth  and  other  night-fly- 
ing insects  is  proverbial,  and,  as  often  happens,  they  will  return 
to  it  again  and  again  until,  singed  in  the  flame,  they  fall  to  the 
floor.  In  this  case  experiment  has  also  proved  x  that  the  moth 
always  flies  towards  the  source  of  light,  and  that  it  is  more 
sensitive  at  night.  Moths  pass  the  day  in  a  kind  of  sleep,  but 
become  very  active  at  the  approach  of  dusk. 

Earthworms,  as  well  as  many  other  animals,  also  creep  into 
the  crevices  of  solid  bodies,  which  for  the  time  holds  them  like 
a  trap.  They  will  crawl  the  whole  length  of  a  crevice  before 
leaving  it,  and  the  response  in  this  case  is  not  to  light,  but  to 
the  mechanical  friction  of  a  solid  body  against  their  skins. 
These  are  but  a  few  of  hundreds  of  illustrations  which  could 
be  given  of  the  tropisms,  or  trial  movements  of  an  animal, 
which  are  influenced  by  the  direction  and  intensity  of  light  or  by 
energy  of  some  other  form.  While  much  still  remains  to  be 
explained,  this  is  a  step  in  advance  of  the  former  custom  of 
ascribing  all  such  actions  to  "blind  instinct."  Changes  in  the 
nervous  system  may  determine  the  character  of  the  response, 
but  the  fact  that  the  animal  moves  at  all  is  due  to  an  outside 
cause. 

Physiology  has  also  given  us  the  term  re-flex  action,  which 
was  first  applied  to  vertebrates,  and  suggests  a  comparison  be- 
tween a  mirror  and  the  spinal  cord.  This  was  supposed  to 
receive  sensory  impressions  from  the  surface  of  the  body  and  to 

1  See  especially  the  Studies  in  General  Physiology  of  Professor  Jacques 
Loeb.  Chicago,  1905. 


198  Wild  Birds 

reflect  them  back  on  the  muscles,  which  were  made  to  contract. 
It  thus  implied  a  complicated  mechanism  of  sense-organs  at  the 
surface  of  the  body,  central  cells  in  the  cord,  and  conducting 
nerves.  The  closing  of  the  eyelid  in  response  to  a  sudden  move- 
ment of  any  object  towards  the  eye,  and  the  adjustment  of  the 
pupil  by  which  the  intensity  of  the  light  which  falls  upon  the 
retina  is  regulated  automatically  and  with  wonderful  precision, 
are  typical  illustrations  of  adaptive  or  useful  reflex  responses. 
The  tropisms  usually  involve  more  or  less  complicated  reflex 
movements,  and  between  these  forms  of  response  no  sharp  dis- 
tinctions can  be  drawn.  Moreover,  when  reflex  action  is  re- 
duced to  its  essential  qualities, — the  receipt  and  dispatch  of 
impulses, — we  must  allow  that  the  same  type  of  response  is  seen 
in  plants  as  well  as  in  the  simplest  unicellular  animals,  in  which 
the  refinements  of  an  elaborate  system  of  conducting  nerve- 
fibers  and  distributing  centers  are  unknown.  In  this  wider  sense 
the  simple,  and  uniform  reflex  response  may  be  regarded  as  the 
unit,  as  well  as  the  most  primitive  type,  of  activity. 

For  a  still  more  complicated  kind  of  behavior  metaphysics 
has  given  us  the  venerable  term  instinct,  which  has  proved  a 
veritable  apple  of  Sodom,  and  has  been  the  source  of  more  in- 
effectual discussion  than  almost  any  other  subject  with  which 
modern  biology  has  to  deal.  It  is  properly  applied  to  a  com- 
plicated series  of  actions,  which  are  useful  to  the  individual  or 
to  its  progeny,  but  which  are  performed  without  any  foresight 
of  the  ends  attained  or  the  choice  of  means.  The  performance 
of  the  most  complex  instincts,  as  in  building  the  nest  and  caring 
for  the  young,  calls  into  play  the  whole  body  with  all  its  powers, 
rather  than  single  parts  or  organs  alone,  in  this  respect  agreeing 
with  tropisms  but  differing  from  most  reflexes  in  the  narrower 
sense. 

We  have  already  seen  many  illustrations  of  the  feeding  in- 
stincts displayed  at  the  nests  of  many  wild  birds.  Old  and 
young  seem  to  move  like  one  being,  so  nicely  adjusted  are  the 
give-and-take  reactions  between  mother  and  child.  Such  a  bird 
as  the  Cedar  Waxwing,  though  blind  at  birth,  possesses  the 
senses  of  hearing  and  touch.  When  stimulated  by  hunger, 


Life  and  Instinct 


199 


sound,  or  vibrations  of  any  kind,  it  rises  upon  its  pliant  stomach 
as  upon  a  pillar,  and  with  neck  up-stretched,  trembling  like  a 
tuning-fork,  it  opens  wide  its  mouth,  thus  exposing  its  sensitive 
throat  like  a  pink,  yellow-rimmed  target  to  the  eye  of  the  parent. 
The  whole  body  is  taxed  in  the  performance  of  this  act,  which  is 
done  to  perfection  for  the  first  time  and  without  a  teacher.  It 
seems  to  be  a  typical  reflex  response,  as  automatic  as  an  electric 
bell.  Press  the  button, — that  is, 
jar  the  limb,  or  make  any  kind  of 
sound, — and  up  goes  the  head 
again  and  again,  until  fatigue 
comes  to  its  aid.  That  the  act 
is  adaptive  or  purposeful  the  se- 
quel presently  shows.  When  the 
parent  is  at  hand  with  food  in  its 
gullet,  it  immediately  tosses  back 
its  head;  visible  waves  of  con- 
tracting muscles  are  seen  passing 
upward  from  the  invisible  stom- 
ach, when  it  regurgitates  a  crushed 
berry  or  insect ;  then  bending  low 
it  aims  for  the  center,  placing  a 
few  drops  or  pieces  well  down  in 
the  throat.  Here  another 
"spring  "  is  suddenly  touched,  and 
note  the  result.  The  swallowing 
reflex  is  started,  and  the  nestling  enjoys  its  first  meal.  By  a 
reversal  of  the  process  already  witnessed  in  the  adult,  the  food 
is  carried  downward  to  the  stomach,  where  a  complicated  series 
of  changes  awaits  it.  The  comparison  of  such  instinctive  acts  in 
the  nestling,  to  a  "  chain"  of  reflexes  would  seem  to  be  justified. 
In  this  case  the  actions  of  the  parent  bird  imply  a  long 
series  of  nicely  related  and  orderly  movements :  the  search  after 
prey  and  its  capture,  the  varied  and  often  strange  treatment 
which  this  sometimes  receives,  its  transportation  to  the  nest  and 
disposition  among  the  young, — the  general  trend  or  form  of 
which  may  remain  the  same  from  generation  to  generation, 


Fig.  121.   Cedar-bird  about  thirty-six 

teristic  response  to  any  sound  or  vi- 
bration. Notice  that  the  bird  rests  on 
its  pot-belly,  and  uses  both  wings  and 
legs  for  support.  Enlarged  to  life. 


2OO 


Wild  Birds 


while  in  minor  details  it  is  subject  to  endless  change.  No  doubt 
many  reflexes  are  called  forth  by  the  sight  of  food,  of  the  nest, 
_  1  and  the  quaver- 

ing young;  but, 
as  in  the  case  of 
hunger  and  other 
forms  of  desire, 
the  real  prompt- 
ings to  such  be- 
havior, which  are 
needed  to  weld 
the  links  of  the 
chain,  seem  to 
come  from  within 
the  body  and  not 
from  without. 
In  feeding  her 
nestlings,  the 
mother  seems  to 
be  really  pleasing 
herself  and  satis- 
fying her  keenest 
desires,  which 
are,  however,  in- 
tensified at  the 
sight  of  her 
young  and  at  the 
sound  of  their 
cries.  When  a 
distinction  is 
sought  between 
reflex  action  and  instinct,  we  must  repeat  that  while  the  power 
of  coordinated  response  is  the  chief  hereditary  gift  in  both  cases, 
in  the  latter  it  may  be  called  forth  by  internal  states  or  emotions 
as  well  as  by  external  agents,  and  is  more  complex  and  variable 
in  character. 

In  the  complex  behavior  of  the  wild  bird,  we  see  the  outlines 


Fig.  122.  The  Red-shouldered  Hawk  often  stands  on  the 
toes  of  one  foot,  with  the  '  heel'  or  end  of  the  bare  shank  of 
the  other  resting  on  the  perch. 


Life  and  Instinct  201 

firmly  drawn  in  by  instinct,  but  altered  and  refined  in  many 
places  by  intelligence,  and  paralleled  and  shaded  at  every  point 
by  reflex  action  or  the  power  of  motor  response.  It  does  not 
seem  probable  that  such  actions  can  be  completely  resolved  into 
a  number  of  simple  reflex  components,  but  even  should  this  be 
done  the  historic  and  much-abused  term  instinct  could  still  be 
used  to  advantage. 

Many  instincts  mature  at  birth,  while  others  are  delayed 
until  needed;  some  are  called  forth  but  once  only,  others  re- 
peatedly. As  we  have  seen  (in  Chapter  I.),  the  parental  in- 
stincts are  periodic  in  appearance  and  serial  in  character. 

The  catalogue  of  instinctive  acts  which  even  the  higher 
animals  perform  is  so  great  that  one  is  not  at  a  loss  for  illustra- 
tions. To  those  already  given  I  will  now  add  the  following,  from 
animals  both  high  and  low  in  the  scale. 

When  the  spring  comes,  the  young  bird,  who  returns  to  the 
place  of  its  birth,  is  prompted  to  find  a  mate,  and  with  her  soon 
begins  to  build  a  nest.  Though  unattended  by  instructors,  and 
unprepared  by  practice,  it  uses  the  inherited  tools  of  its  guild — 
bill,  breast,  and  feet — with  nice  precision,  and  be  it  Oriole, 
Robin,  Flycatcher,  or  Vireo,  follows  with  wonderful  closeness 
the  type  of  architecture  which  its  ancestors  have  used  for 
ages. 

Why  does  the  Robin,  in  its  first  attempt  at  nest-building, 
begin  by  laying  a  foundation  of  dry  grass  or  stubble,  and  add 
to  this  mud  softened  with  water,  which  it  then  heaps  about 
its  breast,  and  with  repeated  turnings  and  shakings  gradually 
molds  into  a  symmetrical  cup,  often  selecting  a  rainy  day  for 
the  purpose,  and  why  does  it  finally  finish  the  whole  with  a 
lining  of  fine  grass?  One  might  as  well  ask  why  the  Robin  lays 
blue  eggs,  or  why  it  utters  its  well-known  call.  It  acts  in  these 
ways  because  it  must,  because  Robins  have  been  doing  these 
things  for  hundreds  of  generations.  It  not  only  inherits  tools, 
but  a  certain  aptitude  for  their  use.  Its  organization  compels 
or  determines  its  actions. 

If  the  young  of  a  viviparous  shark  be  taken  from  the  body 
of  its  mother  and  cast  into  the  sea,  they  will  swim  off,  without 


202 


Wild  Birds 


previous  experience  or  practice,1  as  some  water  birds  have  been 
known  to  do  at  the  very  moment  of  breaking  the  shell.  There 
is  nothing  more  remarkable  about  this  than  that  the  swarm 
spores  of  a  Protozoan  should  swim  at  the  moment  the  mem- 


Fig.  123.     Young  Red-shouldered  Hawk  spreading  about  its  prey,  which  is  held  in 
its  talons. 

brane  of  the  mother  cell  which  encloses  them  bursts.  Indeed, 
their  movements  may  be  most  active  long  before  they  are  set 
free. 

Why  does  the  young  Hawk  (Fig.  123),  when  introduced  for 
the  first  time  to  prey  which  is  alive  and  can  move,  crouch,  rivet 

1  See  Audubon,  Ornithological  Biography,  vol.  iii.,  p.  52. 


Life  and  Instinct  203 

its  eye  on  the  victim  and,  like  a  flash,  strike  it  with  its  mailed 
foot;  then  squealing  all  the  while,  spread  wings  and  tail  to  the 
ground,  thus  making  a  complete  enclosure  about  the  quarry, 
with  only  one  way  of  possible  escape,  that  beneath  its  bill  and 
watchful  eye? 

Again,  how  is  it  possible  for  hive-bees,  working  in  the  dark 
and  all  crowded  together,  to  produce  the  exquisite  comb,  com- 
posed of  a  double  layer  of  regular  hexagonal  prisms,  which  will 
contain  the  greatest  amount  of  honey  with  the  least  expenditure 
of  wax,  for  the  making  of  which  precious  honey  must  be  sacri- 
ficed? Or,  again,  what  prompts  certain  ants  to  capture  and 
bring  into  their  nests  ants  of  other  species  which  are  held  as 
slaves,  and  in  this  capacity  not  only  procure  food  for  their 
masters,  but  even  feed  and  clean  them?  The  worker  bee  and 
the  worker  ant  are  sterile,  and  therefore  unable  to  transmit 
anything  which  they  either  inherit  or  acquire. 

How  is  the  larva  of  the  butterfly  or  moth  able  to  spin  its 
cocoon?  It  does  it  alone,  but  once  in  its  life,  and  does  it 
perfectly. 

No  learning  of  such  initial  actions  is  required  or  possible 
since  all  this  has  been  attended  to,  as  one  might  say,  centuries 
before  the  animal  was  born.  All  such  instinctive  activities  are 
spontaneous,  and  when  the  right  button  is  pressed,  or  the  right 
stimulus  applied  from  within  or  without,  the  reaction  follows  as 
a  matter  of  course.  Of  course  the  Robin  must  knead  and  mold 
its  rude  nest-materials  of  mud  and  straw;  of  course  it  must  lay 
blue  eggs,  and  after  incubating  them,  feed  and  rear  its  young. 
To  be  denied  the  privilege  would  cause  sore  distress.  Had  its 
ancestors  been  Cowbirds,  it  would  have  made  no  nest  at  all,  but 
filched  another's,  and  foisting  its  eggs  upon  some  simple-minded 
nurse,  shirked  the  duties  of  parents  to  their  offspring.  The 
Cowbird  was  thus  very  early  to  enter  the  field  of  experimental 
psychology. 

Every  bird  must  follow  the  laws  of  its  nature,  and  its 
inherited  instincts  are  no  more  wonderful  than  its  inher- 
ited organs, — its  vocal  cords,  its  keen  eyes,  and  its  wonderful 
feathers. 


204 


Wild  Birds 


In  popular  language,  by  the  "habits"  of  an  animal,  we  mean 
its  manner  of  life  in  general,  while  a  habit  in  the  restricted  sense 
is  something  which  the  animal  learns  or  acquires.  It  is  asso- 
ciated with  pleasure,  and  by  frequent  repetition  may  become 
fixed  or  stereotyped. 


Fig.  124.     Cock  Robin  taking  a 


Under  some  conditions  habits  are  formed  with  surprising 
quickness.  The  habit  may  be  of  trifling  significance  and  have 
only  a  brief  reign,  but  no  habits  are  absolutely  rigid,  and  the 
genesis  of  all  is  probably  the  same, — pleasurable  consequences 
following  repeated  actions  which  may  be  forced  or  accidental. 
The  result  is  in  all  cases  similar, — a  mental  association  of  certain 
things  with  certain  actions. 


Life  and  Instinct 


205 


While  watching  hour  by  hour  the  Robins  described  in 
Chapter  IV.,  and  recording  their  visits  to  their  young,  I  began 
to  notice  on  the  third  day  that  the  male  usually  approached  on 
the  right  side  of  the  nest — that  is,  on  the  observer's  right  as  he 


Fig.  135.     Inspecting  the  household.     The  female  approaches  on 
the  left. 

stood  facing  it,  while  the  female  frequently  came  to  the  back 
or  on  the  left.  From  that  time  I  recorded  the  manner  of  each 
approach,  and  found  that  the  male  invariably  came  to  the 
right  side,  and  hopped  down  the  limb  to  his  nest. 

In  the  table  given  on  page  206  in  which  the  visits  of  both 
birds  are  recorded  for  two  consecutive  days,  R  is  for  the  right, 
L  for  the  left,  and  B  for  the  far  side  of  the  nest  with  reference  to 
the  tent,  while  the  dashes  represent  visits  the  character  of  which 


2o6  Wild  Birds 

was  undetermined.     Each  sign  represents  a  visit   to   the   nest 
at  which  food  was  usually  served. 

|  Female  RR  —  RRLBRRRRRB 
July  27th.     Third  day  of  ob-  I  ^  ~  ^  L  R 

servation-6^  hours.  RBRRRRRRRR_RR 


B  —  RRR  --  RR  — 

{  Female  LB  B  LB  —  B—        —  BB 
July  28th.     Fourth  day  of  ob-  J 

servation—  4  hours.  |  Male     RRRRRRRRRRRRR 

—  RRR 


For  the  fourth  day  I  have  no  record  of  the  female  approach- 
ing by  the  right  side,  and  no  record  of  the  male  coming  in  any 
other  way.  On  the  two  following  days  the  female  did  not 
appear,  and,  as  I  had  reason  to  believe,  was  engaged  in  building 
a  new  nest.  The  male  at  this  period  always  approached  his 
nest  in  the  habitual  manner.  Now  whether  the  male  bird  had 
formed  this  habit  shortly  after  the  nest  was  built  or  shortly 
after  the  nesting  bough  was  removed  is  of  little  consequence. 
At  all  events  a  definite  mode  of  behavior  had  developed  in  a 
short  space  of  time.  On  the  fourth  day  the  young  had  to  be 
brooded  often,  owing  to  the  heat,  which  accounts  for  the  ap- 
parent inactivity  of  the  female  in  providing  food. 

Birds  form  definite  habits  in  the  manner  of  approach  to  the 
nest,  entering  on  a  certain  side,  or  flying  to  a  certain  twig, 
following  the  path  suggested  in  the  first  instance  by  convenience 
or  dictated  by  caution.  As  we  have  already  seen  (in  Chapter 
XI.),  the  habit  may  arise  at  the  very  beginning  of  nest- 
building.  A  pair  of  Red-eyed  Vireos  with  whom  I  spent  parts 
of  three  days  followed  a  definite  course  in  approach  with  sur- 
prising regularity.  They  would  fly  to  the  main  branch,  hop 
along  toward  the  fork  in  which  the  nest  was  suspended,  and 
finally  perch  on  a  small  convenient  twig  just  over  their  young. 
Out  of  sixty  recorded  visits  they  deviated  from  this  habitual 
method  but  three  times,  and  then  only  before  they  had  re- 
covered from  their  first  feelings  of  fear.  In  this  case  the  nesting 


Life  and  Instinct  207 

branch  had  been  drawn  down  about  a  foot  by  means  of  a  cord, 
but  was  not  otherwise  disturbed. 

In  sitting  over  the  eggs  or  young,  birds  quickly  acquire  the 
habit  of  facing  the  same  way,  in  the  direction  of  habitual  ap- 
proach, and  in  going  to  sleep,  of  twisting  the  head  habitually  to 
the  same  side. 

In  cleaning  the  nest  the  attitude  is  frequently  the  same  in 
successive  visits,  the  birds  often  clasping  the  same  twigs,  so 
that  a  number  of  photographs  of  the  act  taken  without  moving 
the  camera  may  be  so  nearly  identical  that  only  the  most  careful 
inspection  will  reveal  the  least  difference  in  pose  or  position. 

While  engaged  in  studying  some  Redwing  Blackbirds  in 
July  the  weather  was  hot,  and  the  young  had  to  be  brooded 
almost  constantly.  The  female  would  sit  on  the  nest,  often 
with  back  to  the  tent,  with  feathers  erect  and  mouth  open  in 
her  efforts  to  keep  cool.  Suddenly  the  shriek  of  a  steam  whistle 
sounded  the  hour  of  noon  at  a  mill  scarcely  three  rods  away. 
It  startled  me,  but  the  bird  did  not  budge  a  feather.  It  is  not 
difficult  to  imagine  that  her  first  experience  with  this  instrument 
of  torture  was  quite  different  in  its  result,  but  the  case  illus- 
trates the  ease  with  which  birds  become  quickly  accustomed  to 
strange  and  uncouth  sounds,  when,  as  sometimes  happens,  they 
place  their  nests  in  a  saw-mill  a  few  feet  from  the  buzzing  saw 
or  above  the  grinding  trolley  cars  of  a  city  street. 

Every  animal  must  adapt  itself  in  some  measure  to  changes 
in  its  surroundings,  and  with  birds  this  necessity  is  well  ex- 
pressed in  the  nest,  the  position,  materials,  and  construction  of 
which  are  subject  to  incessant  change,  and  in  the  diet.  The 
change  in  nesting  habit  may  be  slight  or  of  a  very  marked 
character,  as  when  the  common  type  of  architecture  is  aban- 
doned, or  a  distinct  nest-structure  wanting.  Only  a  single  ex- 
ample of  change  in  nesting  habits  need  now  be  considered  since 
the  facts  are  matters  of  common  observation. 

The  Swift  of  this  country  is  often  quoted  as  one  of  the  most 
remarkable  examples  of  birds  whose  nesting  habits  have  changed 
in  recent  times.  Formerly  breeding  in  hollow  trees  and  still 
doing  so  in  places  remote  from  mankind,  it  now  attaches  its  little 


208 


Wild  Birds 


wicker  crates  to  the  inside  of  chimneys.  From  the  standpoint 
of  the  Swift  the  change  has  really  been  very  slight,  and  had  it 
not  become  so  widespread  it  would  have  attracted  little  atten- 
tion. This  bird  was  probably  drawn  to  the  town  and  open 
country  by  the  greater  abundance  of  its  insect  prey,  and  to  the 


Fig.  126.      Male  Redwing  Blackbird  cleaning  the  nest. 

mind  of  the  Swift  a  chimney  cannot  be  very  different  from  a 
hollow  tree.  Its  instinct  probably  does  not  lead  it  to  select  a 
dead  tree  for  its  roosts  or  nests  because  it  is  a  tree,  any  more 
than  it  leads  it  to  prefer  a  sycamore  to  an  oak.  What  is  prob- 
ably inherited  is  the  tendency  to  seek  a  dark  or  cavernous  place 
with  easy  entrance  and  exit.  The  chimney  which  emits  no 
smoke  in  summer  and  usually  stands  in  the  open,  fulfils  every 
requirement  in  places  where  hollow  trees  are  scarce. 


Life  and  Instinct 


209 


The  Swift  is  yet  capable  of  adapting  its  needs  to  conditions 
far  more  unlike  those  of  the  ancestral  tree,  and  cases  are  occa- 
sionally reported  in  which  it  has  nested  in  barns  and  other  dimly 
lighted  buildings.1 

In  at  least  one  respect  birds  resemble  men  in  their  ordinary 


Fig.  127.  Male  Redwing  Blackbird  cleaning  the  nest;  photo- 
graphed under  the  same  conditions  as  Fig.  126,  and  illustrating  the 
formation  of  habit  in  the  daily  routine. 

building  operations.  They  make  use  of  the  materials  at  hand, 
but  in  the  selection  of  the  site  for  the  nest  many  seem  to  obey  no 
rule,  being  ever  on  the  alert  to  adapt  themselves  to  their  lot, 
and  a  habit  once  formed  often  leads  to  a  steady  line  of  conduct. 
The  diet  of  an  insectivorous  bird  is  extremely  varied  at  all 

*  See  p.  114  of  the  first  edition  of  this  work. 


210 


Wild  Birds 


times,  depending  much  upon  the  locality  and  the  season  of  the 
year.  While  a  few  kinds  of  insects  may  be  avoided  because 
of  a  repugnant  taste,  they  capture,  as  a  rule,  whatever  comes 
in  their  way.  The  Robin  commonly  brings  to  its  nest  grass- 
hoppers, crickets,  katydids,  and  angleworms,  because  in  its  cus- 


Fig.  128.    Female  Kingbird  balancing  herself  with  raised  wings  while  feeding  young. 

tomary  manner  of  search  it  finds  and  is  able  to  secure  these 
forms  in  abundance.  The  Kingbird,  which  takes  most  of  its 
prey  on  the  wing,  discovers  a  far  greater  variety.  When  certain 
species  of  insects  are  abundant,  they  are  often  eaten  by  many 
birds  who  under  ordinary  conditions  would  never  touch  them. 
Thus  during  a  plague  of  Rocky  Mountain  locusts  which  visited 
the  Western  States,  these  insects  are  reported  to  have  been  eaten 


Life  and  Instinct 


211 


by  nearly  every  bird  in  the  region,  and  to  have  served  as  a  staple 
for  most  of  the  species.  Birds  of  prey  such  as  the  smaller  Hawks 
and  Owls  devoured  them  eagerly.  The  food  habits  of  most  birds 
are  exceedingly  plastic  and  liable  to  sudden  change  under  the 
spur  of  necessity. 

The  simplest  acquired  powers,  which  are  the  fruits  of  ex- 


Fig.  129.    Male  Kingbird  seeing  a  cicada  safely  down  a  hungry  throat. 


perience,  are  the  marks  of  intelligence  also.  As  a  result  of  trial, 
error,  or  success,  the  animal  soon  learns  to  do  certain  things; 
it  develops  a  memory,  and  forms  habits. 

The  young  and  inexperienced  chick,  at  birth  or  shortly  after, 
will  peck  indiscriminately  at  all  sorts  of  objects,  as  the  nestling 
bird  responds  to  sounds  of  every  kind;  but  it  soon  learns  to 


212  Wild  Birds 

select  agreeable  insects  and  dabs  of  meal,  but  to  reject  shining 
tacks,  burnt  match  ends,  and  stinging  bees.  It  learns  to  asso- 
ciate a  definite  experience  with  a  definite  object,  and  by  con- 
trolling its  actions  to  profit  by  the  experiences  thus  acquired. 
In  other  words,  it  displays  associative  memory,  which  marks  the 
dawn  of  intelligence,  and,  as  some  students  believe,  of  conscious- 
ness also.  Any  animal  which  can  learn  or  be  taught  accord- 
ingly possesses  memory  of  this  kind. 

The  wild  bird  learns  to  eat  certain  things,  to  avoid  certain 
enemies,  to  start  at  certain  sounds,  to  ignore  others;  the  young 
Kingfisher  even  acquires  the  habit  of  walking  backward  (see 
Chapter  X.),  while  its  instincts  lead  it  to  walk  forward.  It  learns 
to  drink  by  first  getting  its  bill  wet,  possibly  by  picking  off 
drops  of  dew  from  the  grass,  and  by  raising  its  head  starts  the 
swallowing  reflex. 

The  mental  life  of  animals  is  like  a  piece  of  fine  weaving,  in 
which  the  original  strands  have  been  so  often  replaced  by  others 
of  different  quality  that  the  texture  and  pattern  have  been 
essentially  changed,  and  this  change  is  going  on  all  the  time. 
In  animals  standing  as  high  as  the  birds,  experience  quickly 
modifies  the  instincts,  which,  as  we  have  seen,  may  be  changed 
or  virtually  replaced  by  habits.  It  should  not  therefore  sur- 
prise us  if  a  bird's  second  nest  were  more  nearly  perfect  than 
its  first,  or  if  the  third  should  prove  better  than  the  second,  but 
this  would  also  depend  upon  other  conditions. 

The  power  of  forming  habits  is  a  sign  of  intelligence,  but  not 
necessarily  of  reason  in  any  of  its  higher  grades  or  levels.  The 
intelligence  may  be  a  small  grain  and  never  destined  to  grow 
into  a  flourishing  tree  of  knowledge,  but  it  must  exist  along  with 
the  power  of  putting  any  experience  to  profitable  use. 

The  habits  acquired  by  one  generation  are  probably  never 
handed  on  to  the  next,  but  this  is  a  subject  about  which  the 
dust  of  argument  has  not  yet  cleared  away. 

The  life  of  birds  is  one  of  instinct  irradiated  by  gleams  of  in- 
telligence. Their  mental  faculties  exhibit  a  wide  range  of  grada- 
tion from  excessive  stupidity  to  a  fair  degree  of  intelligence,  with 
strong  associative  powers, — rarely  if  ever  the  association  of  ideas 


Life  and  Instinct 


213 


but  of  things  with  actions, — and  often  with  wonderful  powers  of 
imitation. 

In  the  order  of  evolution  the  simple  reflex  responses  were  the 
precursors  of  instinct,  and  instinct  of  intelligence.  The  degrees 
of  the  latter  are  not  sharply  denned,  and  it  is  possible  that  all 
types  of  response  intergrade.  Yet,  according  to  the  later  views 
of  evolutionary  progress,  the  forward  steps  may  be  rapid  as  well 
as  slow,  and  intelligence  may  mark  one  of  those  sudden  advances, 
which  have  appeared  in  the  past  history  of  life  on  the  earth. 


CHAPTER  XIV 

FEAR  IN  BIRDS 

BIRDS  as  a  rule  are  possessed  of  fear,  which  is  primarily  an 
instinct,  but,  as  we  shall  see  later  on,  many  species  in  their 
natural  adult  state  are  entirely  devoid  of  this  sense.  With 
others  it  may  wax  or  wane  according  to  their  environment  or 
individual  experiences.  Again,  the  nature  of  the  fear  manifested 
varies  with  age  or  the  period  of  life.  It  is  a  generalized  sense  of 
fear,  or  fear  of  the  strange  and  unusual,  which  comes  over  the 
young  bird,  while  later  it  learns  to  dread  particular  objects  or 
sounds  with  which  some  bitter  experience  is  associated.  Further- 
more, the  time  of  the  appearance  of  the  instinct  varies  in  different 
species,  coming  late  in  some  and  early  in  others.  Generally 
speaking  the  manifestation  of  fear  is  well  timed,  and  is  an  adap- 
tation for  the  good  of  its  possessor. 

Let  us  first  see  how  fear  enters  into  the  life  of  the  young. 
Birds  are  sometimes  roughly  classified  into  altricial  species, 
which  feed  their  young  for  days  or  weeks  at  the  nest,  and  prseco- 
cial  birds,  whose  young  are  born  clad  in  soft  down,  and  are  able 
to  walk,  run,  or  swim  at  once  or  very  soon  after  hatching.  The 
Altrices,  like  the  Robin,  Woodpecker,  and  Humming-bird,  are 
hatched  from  eggs  which  are  small  in  relation  to  the  size  of  the 
parent,  and  the  young  are  at  first  blind,  helpless,  and  more  or 
less  completely  naked.  In  all  such  the  nest  is  only  a  temporary 
home,  but  is  often  very  elaborate,  while  the  instinct  of  fear  is 
delayed  or  deferred  until  the  time  of  flight,  a  period  varying 
from  a  few  days  to  three  weeks  or  more.  The  Praecoces  lay  eggs 
with  big  yolks,  upon  the  stored  energy  of  which  the  unhatched 
young  subsist  until  they  step  forth  into  the  world,  seeing,  able 

214 


Fear  in  Birds 


215 


to  walk  or  swim,  and  in  some  degree  their  own  masters.  The 
common  domestic  fowls,  Partridges,  Ostriches,  Geese,  Loons, 
Plover,  and  Snipe,  are  some  of  the  better  known  representatives 


30.     Brown  Thrush  startled  while  at  nest :  attitude  of  keen  attention. 


of  this  group,  but  the  dividing  line  is  never  sharply  drawn,  and 
there  are  innumerable  gradations  between  the  extremes  in 
either  class.  In  the  praecocial  birds  the  feeling  of  fear  is  either 
present  at  birth,  or  appears  in  a  very  few  hours  or  days. 


216  Wild  Birds 

As  an  illustration  of  the  development  of  fear  in  the  altricial 
kinds,  one  might  select  any  of  the  common  passerine  birds, 
Thrushes,  Warblers,  Finches,  or  Flycatchers,  but  we  should 
bear  in  mind  that  the  development  of  this  instinct  is  not  always 
uniformly  timed,  even  in  the  same  species.  We  will  choose  the 
Catbird,  the  Chestnut-sided  Warbler,  and  the  Kingfisher. 

When  I  first  camped  beside  a  Catbird's  nest  (No.  6  of  table, 
Chapter  I.)  in  June,  the  young,  who  were  then  about  a  week 
old,  were  incapable  of  fear.  They  would  shift  about  the  nest 
to  get  into  the  shade,  pant,  and  erect  their  growing  head- 
feathers.  When  a  breeze  rocked  the  cradle,  or  a  Redwing 
Blackbird  sang  his  conquer-ee,  or  the  parent  came  with  meat  or 
fruit,  they  stretched  necks,  opened  mouths,  each  struggling  to 
get  some  advantage  over  the  other,  and  uttered  their  sharp  tsit! 
tsit!  notes.  You  could  handle  them  at  will;  they  were  abso- 
lutely fearless.  If  such  a  nest  is  overturned  they  will  cling  to  it 
but  never  cower  or  crouch. 

As  we  have  seen,  the  clipping  of  a  leaf  at  this  nest  two  days 
later  sent  them  off  in  a  panic,  and  all  hurried  to  the  nearest 
cover.  Should  you  succeed  in  catching  them  under  such  cir- 
cumstances, which  is  doubtful,  and  try  to  replace  them  in  the 
nest,  they  will  pop  out  repeatedly  as  if  mounted  on  springs,  and 
if  you  try  to  hold  them  in  the  hand  they  will  struggle,  squeal,  and 
fairly  shriek  in  their  endeavors  to  escape.  They  are  now  covered 
with  a  coat  of  slate-colored  feathers,  but  fly  with  difficulty. 
When  placed  on  open  ground,  they  hop  off  at  once  toward  the 
nearest  bush.  No  greater  change  in  the  behavior  of  a  wild 
bird  is  ever  witnessed  than  that  which  the  sense  of  fear  brings 
to  pass. 

I  have  seen  a  young  Chestnut-sided  Warbler  jump  out  of  its 
nest,  when  unable  to  stand  erect  and  much  less  to  use  its  wings. 
In  this  case  the  pin-feathers  of  the  wings  had  barely  burst,  and 
the  body  was  nearly  naked.  When  the  bird  was  returned  to  its 
nest,  it  refused  to  remain  until  the  operation  was  many  times 
repeated  and  it  was  finally  overcome  by  fatigue.  I  have  known 
the  young  of  the  Redstart  to  leave  the  nest  remarkably  early, 
but  the  case  just  recorded  appears  to  be  somewhat  exceptional. 


Fear  in  Birds 


217 


The  instinct  of  fear  comes  with  a  certain  maturity  of  the 
nervous  system,  with  comparative  suddenness,  as  we  have  just 
seen,  but  is  usually  timed  to  correspond  with  the  development 
of  the  wing-quills  and  the  power  of  flight. 


Fig.  131.  Young  Kingfishers  twenty-four  days  old.  They  are  capable  of  flight  but 
show  no  fear. 

At  the  age  of  twenty-four  days  the  Kingfisher  is  in  full  feather, 
but  shows  no  fear.  He  will  perch  comfortably  on  your  hand  or 
shoulder,  and  pose  in  any  desired  position,  as  the  photographs 
made  at  this  period  will  show,  but  the  instinct  soon  appears 
after  this  stage  is  passed.  In  from  twenty-four  to  forty-eight 
hours  later,  when  these  birds  not  only  possess  the  power  of 
flight  but  use  it  at  the  first  intimation  of  danger,  their  docile  na- 
ture has  completely  changed.  With  them  the  late  development 


218 


Wild  Birds 


of  this  instinct  is  most  opportune,  since  they  are  not  tempted 
to  leave  the  security  of  their  tunnel  in  the  ground  until  they  can 
make  long  excursions  and  follow  their  parents  to  the  favorite 
fishing  grounds. 


Fig.  132.  Red-tailed  Hawk,  four  months  old,  in  attitude  of  fear.  The 
young  bird  at  the  nest  will  spread  its  wings  as  well  as  erect  its  Eliza- 
bethan fiill,  and  hiss  at  intruders. 

Turning  now  to  the  praecocial  birds,  according  to  the  best 
testimony,  fear  in  the  domestic  chick  hatched  in  an  incubator  is 
at  first  very  slight,  and  is  soon  checked  by  contrary  impulses 
such  as  to  nestle  in  a  warm  place,  unless  the  instinct  be  brought 
into  immediate  exercise. 

Mr.  Charles  A.  Allen  says  that  the  newly  hatched  young  of 
the  Black  Duck  (Anas  obscura)  show  no  fear,  but  will  "cuddle 


Fear  in  Birds  219 

under  one's  hand  very  confidingly."  I  once  saw  a  nest  of  this 
species  on  the  shore  of  Lake  Champlain,  near  Burlington,  Ver- 
mont, on  the  very  verge  of  a  high,  overhanging  cliff.  It  was 
set  against  the  stems  of  a  slender  shrub,  the  pulling  of  which 
would  doubtless  have  precipitated  the  entire  clutch  fifty  feet 
into  the  water  below.  A  little  delay  in  the  instinctive  reaction 
of  fear  could  hardly  come  amiss  to  young  in  such  a  nest.  On  the 
other  hand  when  the  ducklings  have  been  led  to  the  water  no 
birds  show  a  keener  sense  of  fear  than  they  or  respond  more 
promptly  to  the  alarm  signals  of  their  parents.  I  was  greatly 
impressed  when  a  boy  at  the  sight  of  a  Black  Duck  leading  her 
trim  little  fleet  of  yellow  sail  up  the  mouth  of  a  small  sedge- 
bordered  stream.  The  old  bird  quickly  gave  the  alarm,  rose, 
veered,  and  flew  towards  the  river,  while  the  young  scrambled 
to  the  bank  and  hid  in  the  rushes.  I  hunted  long  but  succeeded 
in  finding  only  one  that  lay  flat  in  the  marsh  and  kept  perfectly 
still,  true  to  its  inherited  instinct.  These  ducklings  had  not 
been  afloat  many  hours,  and  had  this  action  been  repeated 
before,  the  lesson  could  not  have  been  taught,  since,  as  we  have 
seen,  the  young  under  such  circumstances  are  left  to  their  own 
devices. 

I  have  seen  a  young  chick  while  feeding  quietly  close  to  the 
house  suddenly  turn  its  head,  look  straight  at  the  zenith,  and 
then  run  off  in  a  panic  of  fear.  Looking  up  also  I  saw  a  Hen 
Hawk  sailing  aloft  like  a  toy  kite,  a  mere  speck  against  the  blue 
heavens.  I  think  it  probable  that  the  bird  got  an  alarm  signal 
from  some  other  fowls  in  the  yard ;  at  all  events  it  knew  where 
to  look,  and  its  response  was  not  slow.  This  chicken  may  have 
been  three  weeks  old,  and  so  had  ample  time  to  learn  its  lesson, 
if  such  it  was.  Had  the  dark  object  been  a  paper  kite,  it  is  not 
likely  that  the  fear  evoked  would  have  been  appreciably  less. 

In  altricial  birds  the  sense  of  fear  usually  comes,  as  we  have 
seen,  with  the  development  of  the  flight  feathers,  but  it  is  often 
premature,  thus  indirectly  causing  the  death  of  thousands  of 
birds  every  year.  In  July  and  August  how  many  helpless 
Sparrows  and  Thrushes  are  found  on  the  ground,  having  left 
their  nests  too  early!  Sometimes  they  tumble  out  by  accident. 


220 


Wild  Birds 


are  drawn  off  by  hunger  or  .are  blown  out  in  a  gale,  but  I  be- 
lieve that  by  far  the  greater  number  of  such  strays  are  driven 
forth  by  fright,  and  when  this  perilous  step  has  once  been  taken 

it  can  seldom  be 
retraced.  The 
young  of  such 
birds  as  the  Wil- 
son Thrushes, 
whose  nests  are 
on  or  near  the 
ground  out  of  the 
reach  of  storms, 
are  often  found  in 
this  predicament. 
It  is  an  interest- 
ing fact  that  the 
huge  pot-belly  of 
the  young  altri- 
cial  bird  has  a  use 
quite  apart  from 
the  function  of 
digestion.  It  an- 
chors it  to  the 
nest,  and  as  in 
the  modern 
"Brownie  "  keeps 
it  right  side  up. 
The  pliant  vis- 
cera conform  to 
every  movement, 
and  form  a  cen- 


y  filling  the  nest  of 
lothered  :   fearless, 


Fig.  133.  Young  Cowbird  comforta 
its  foster  parent,  whose  children  it 
though  nearly  ready  to  fly. 

t  r  a  1    supporting 

pillar  long  before  the  legs  can  sustain  the  weight  of  the  body. 
(See  Fig.  in.) 

Many  immature  birds  which  I  have  watched  at  the  nest 
show  no  precise  powers  of  discrimination  in  any  direction.  You 
will  see  them  respond  as  promptly  to  the  nutter  of  a  leaf  or  the 


Fear  in  Birds 


221 


call -note  of  any  passing  bird  as  to  their  own  mother's  voice,  but 
a  more  curious  spectacle  may  be  witnessed  when  a  fledgling  of 
one  of  our  common  species,  like  the  Baltimore  Oriole,  climbs 
to  the  top  of  its 
nest.  All  the 
others  immedi- 
ately salute  it  as 
if  it  were  an  old 
bird,  and  with 
open  mouths 
beg  vainly  to  be 
fed.  If  a  young 
bird  within  a 
day  of  taking 
flight  cannot 
distinguish  one 
of  its  brothers 
from  its  mother, 
it  can  hardly  be 
expected  to 
"know  a  hawk 
from  a  hand- 
saw,'' or  an 
enemy  from  a 
friend. 

After  taking 
flight,  the  young 
of  altricial  birds 
are  fed  by  one 
or  both  parents 
for  a  period  of 
days  or  weeks, 

and  much  is  quickly  learned  by  imitation  and  individual  ex- 
perience. Their  ingrained  sense  of  fear  becomes  in  the  course 
of  time  gradually  specialized  in  certain  directions.  Fear  of 
man,  guns,  hawks,  snakes,  cats,  and  the  various  agents  of  de- 
struction with  which  each  species  must  contend  in  the  course 


Fig.  134.     Young  Cowbird  on 
which  it  was  reared. 


t  of  Magnolia  Warble 


222 


Wild  Birds 


of  its  life,  seems  in  every  case  to  be  acquired  or  learned  rather 
than  inherited. 

The  instinct  of  fear  seems  to  be  longer  deferred  in  the  Cow- 
bird  than  in  many  other  species.  This  was  true  of  a  bird  which 
was  nursed  by  a  Magnolia  Warbler  (see  Figs.  133,  134),  whose  nest 


Fig-  135.     Young  Cowbird,  being  nursed  by  a  Chipping  Sparrow,  whose  own  young 
it  had  destroyed. 

it  completely  filled.  Standing  with  erect  feathers  on  the  rim  of 
the  nest,  he  would  squeak  and  call  vehemently  for  his  foster 
parents.  I  took  from  beneath  him  the  dried  mummy  of  a  little 
Warbler  and  one  addled  egg,  which  illustrates  the  advantage 
nature  gives  this  bird  over  his  competitors  in  early  life.  He 
showed  no  fear,  but  clung  like  a  monkey  to  the  nest,  while  I 
carried  the  branch  several  hundred  feet  to  find  a  quiet  place  out 


Fear  in  Birds 


223 


of  the  wind.  In  this  instance  I  did  not  see  the  Warbler,  but  am 
fortunate  in  being  able  to  illustrate, in  the  devotions  of  a  Chipping 
Sparrow  to  another  Cowbird  (Fig.  135),  the  strength  of  those 
parental  instincts,  which  often  demand  satisfaction  at  whatever 


Fig.  136.     Cock  Robin  startled  while  at  nest  by  a  quick,  decisive  alarm  call  from 
his  mate.     His  head  shot  up  like  a  flash,  and  in  a  moment  he  was  off. 

cost.     This  bird's  family  was  also  sacrificed,  but  in  favor  of  a 
pair  of   Song    Sparrows,    from    whose    nest    I    had    taken   the 

egg- 
Many  birds  have  alarm  calls  or  signals  of  distress,  which 
attract  or  arouse  other  species,  as  every  one  knows  who  has 
studied  birds  in  the  country.  When  a  Robin  hears  the  alarm 
call  of  his  mate,  his  head  goes  up  instantly,  and  he  stands  for  a 
moment  with  outstretched  neck,  listening  intently  to  see  if  he 
is  needed.  I  was  fortunate  in  catching  the  male  bird  at  the 


224  Wild  Birds 

nest  in  just  this  attitude,  expressive  of  attention  and  wariness, 
bordering  on  fear.  (Fig.  136.) 

A  hawk,  owl,  crow,  cat,  snake,  or  any  well-known  or  dreaded 
enemy  of  birds  will  set  the  community  in  a  hubbub  in  a  very 
short  time.  Birds  of  other  species  hurry  to  the  scene  out  of 
sympathy  or  curiosity,  as  some  would  say,  but  probably  more 
from  instinct  of  a  different  character.  The  smallest  spark  often 
kindles  the  largest  blaze.  Thus  while  passing  through  a  pasture 
last  June  I  happened  to  encounter  a  Robin  with  mouth  stuffed 
with  food,  as  if  on  the  way  to  her  nest.  She  at  once  set  up  a 
loud  cry,  and  mounting  the  bare  branch  of  a  dead  apple  tree,  in 
five  minutes  drummed  up  eleven  different  birds,  among  which  I 
recognized  the  Baltimore  Oriole,  Brown  Thrush,  two  Catbirds, 
Chestnut-sided  Warbler,  Red-eyed  Vireo,  Maryland  Yellow 
Throat,  Song  Sparrow,  Chickadee,  the  Redstart,  and  a  Goldfinch, 
many  of  which  became  excited  and  joined  in  the  general  outcry. 

To  return  to  a  subject  which  has  been  mentioned  more  than 
once  in  this  work, — the  brooding  instinct  of  the  Flicker  fur- 
nishes a  beautiful  illustration  of  how  the  strong  sense  of  fear  may 
be  checked  by  a  stronger  and  contrary  impulse.  When  a  nest 
of  these  birds  was  discovered  on  the  third  of  June,  a  gentle  tap- 
tap  on  the  hollow  apple  tree  was  quickly  answered ;  a  polished 
chisel-shaped  bill  was  thrust  through  the  window  and  quickly 
withdrawn;  another  tap,  and  the  graceful  form  of  this  Wood- 
pecker appeared,  and  spreading  to  view  the  black,  white,  and 
gold  of  her  ornamental  quills,  she  went  off  like  a  flash,  without 
a  sound.  There  were  seven  eggs  in  the  nest,  and  fear  was  still 
in  control. 

Compare  her  actions  a  week  later,  when  there  were  young 
about  four  days  old.  The  tree  giving  no  sign  of  life  on  the 
morning  of  the  eleventh  day  of  June,  I  cut  a  square  block  from 
its  side  well  below  the  circular  door  which  had  been  already 
chiseled  out  by  the  bird  (Figs.  43,  137),  and  was  astonished  to 
see  the  Flicker  sitting  motionless  as  the  Sphinx.  She  had  not 
moved  a  feather,  not  even  to  shake  off  the  sawdust  which  had 
rained  over  her  handsome  back  and  head.  I  stroked  her  with 
my  finger,  enclosed  her  in  my  hand,  lifted  her  up,  and  unfolded 


Fear  in  Birds 

her  lovely  wings,  but  there  was  no  unfriendly  response, 
was  absorbed,  and  clung  to  her  young  like  iron  to  a  magnet. 


225 

She 
No 


Fig.  137.  Male  Flicker  regurgitating  the  food  at  nest-hole,  before 
entering  to  deliver  it.  The  closed  artificial  window  is  shown  at  the 
lower  end  on  the  right. 

better  illustration  could  be  given  of  the  brooding  instinct  at  the 
flood,  blocking  and  completely  banishing  the  sense  of  fear 

It  is  difficult  to  leave  this  nest  without  lifting  the  curtain  for 


226 


Wild  Birds 


a  moment  to  reveal  a  picture  of  unusual  interest.  Under  this 
bird  lay  five  blind,  naked,  long-necked,  taper-bodied  creatures, 
heaving  and  swaying  like  a  bed  of  writhing  serpents,  suggesting 
the  true  relationship  and  origin  of  birds. 

Five  days  later  the  Flicker  had  recovered  her  sense  of  fear, 
and  was  exceedingly  wary  in  all  her  movements.     The  young 

. 


Fig.  138.    The  window  open,  showing  the  Flicker  pumping  food  into  a 
nestling. 

were  fed  regularly  by  both  parents  at  intervals  of  one  half  hour, 
and  by  regurgitation,  on  a  grayish  paste  which  may  have  been 
pulverized  ants'  "eggs,"  and  suggested  a  cooked  cereal  of  the 
breakfast-food  variety.  One  of  the  illustrations  (Fig.  138) 
shows  this  bird  clinging  to  the  wooden  walls  of  the  nest,  head 
downwards,  and  pumping  this  concentrated  mixture  into  the 
throat  of  an  excited  nestling. 


Fear  in  Birds  227 

The  preceding  pages  on  this  important  and  difficult  subject 
may  be  summarized  as  follows:  The  instinct  of  fear  is  inherited, 
and  often  delayed,  where  it  is  a  special  adaptation,  not  only 
leading  the  young,  as  Lloyd  Morgan  remarks,  to  accept  a  foster 
parent  and  not  to  shrink  from  her,  but  what  is  more  important, 
keeping  the  young  in  the  nest,  barring  accidents,  until  they 
can  in  some  degree  help  themselves.  Fear  of  particular  objects 
is  learned,  or  becomes  grafted  on  to  the  original  stock.  The 
instinct  may  gather  force  or  disappear,  at  least  in  adult  life, 
according  to  the  nature  of  the  environment  and  the  new  habits 
formed  in  consequence.  The  strongest  sense  of  fear  may  be 
partially  or  completely  blocked  by  the  brooding  and  other 
parental  instincts.  The  instinctive  basis  of  fear  is  apparently 
handed  down  from  generation  to  generation,  but  in  the  life  of 
the  full-grown  bird  it  is  probably  largely  replaced  by  habit  or 
the  formation  of  associations.  The  innate  or  latent  capacity 
remains,  but  the  definite  association  of  certain  actions  with  par- 
ticular objects  or  experiences  is  probably  handed  down  by 
tradition  rather  than  by  heredity. 


CHAPTER  XV 

TAMING  WILD  BIRDS  WITHOUT  A  CAGE 

MANY  illustrations  could  be  given  of  birds  which  in  most 
parts  of  their  range  are  wild  or  shy  while  in  others  they 
are  very  tame,  and  the  same  principle  underlies  them  all.  Wild- 
ness  is  due  to  fear,  which  is  partly  inherited  and  partly  learned 
by  experience  with  this  wicked  world.  Tameness,  on  the  other 
hand,  comes  with  the  casting  out  of  fear,  and  may  be  brought 
about  by  the  formation  of  new  habits  which  are  either  spon- 
taneous or  forced. 

The  House  Sparrows  of  the  Tuileries,  and  the  pious  Stork  of 
Holland,  Germany,  and  France,  are  familiar  examples  of  birds 
whose  near  or  remote  ancestors  are  shy  and  wary.  The  Stork 
when  migrating  in  vast  flocks  along  the  borders  of  the  desert 
and  in  the  valley  of  the  Nile  is  wary  and  hard  to  approach,  yet 
it  comes  with  confidence  to  the  village  and  town,  builds  its  nests 
upon  housetops  and  steeples,  and  struts  about  the  streets  and 
door-yards  in  search  of  food. 

It  would  be  interesting  to  know  how  long  the  Doves  of  Venice 
have  enjoyed  the  freedom  of  the  Piazza  del  Marco.  They  are 
probably  the  best  fed  pigeons  in  the  world,  and  few  hours  pass 
in  the  course  of  the  day  when  their  guardian,  the  vendor  of  sacks 
of  corn,  is  not  surrounded  by  his  flock.  They  will  alight  all  over 
you,  and  take  the  grain  from  hand  or  mouth.  The  Pigeon,  it 
is  true,  has  been  long  domesticated  and  responds  more  readily  to 
friendly  influences  than  the  wild  stock  from  which  it  has  sprung. 

Strange  and  possibly  true  stories  are  told  of  persons  who  have 
won  the  confidence  of  beast  or  bird.  The  wild  bird  responds 
to  their  call,  and  the  quadruped  comes  forth  from  his  den  and 


Taming  Wild  Birds  without  a  Cage       229 

takes  food  from  their  hand.  Such  persons  are  popularly  sup- 
posed to  possess  a  mysterious  power  of  fascination  or  a  superior 
knowledge  of  woodcraft,  but  all  this  belongs  in  the  catalogue  of 
vulgar  errors.  It  depends  less  upon  the  individuality  of  the 
person  than  that  of  the  animal.  Individual  variation  knows 
hardly  a  limit,  whether  in  man  or  beast.  Some  birds  are  natu- 
rally tame  and  confiding,  while  their  next-door  neighbors  of  the 
same  kin  and  living  in  the  same  field  may  possess  a  temperament 
of  such  an  opposite  character  as  to  baffle  every  attempt  to 
dispel  their  fears. 

The  power  of  remaining  motionless  like  a  stone  or  stump  in 
the  woods  is  often  enough  to  win  the  temporary  confidence  of 
both  mammal  and  bird,  and  many  will  doubtless  recall  illustra- 
tions of  this  fact  from  their  own  experience.  This  suggests  an 
early  episode  which  impressed  itself  rather  strongly  at  the  time. 
With  raised  fishing-pole  in  hand  I  was  sitting  quietly  by  the 
river,  possibly  watching  the  common  sunfish  or  bream  standing 
guard  over  their  nests,  which  they  defend  with  such  fiery  pug- 
nacity, when  I  suddenly  had  a  "bite."  Looking  up,  I  saw  a 
Kingbird  comfortably  perched  on  the  end  of  my  rod.  He 
doubtless  had  a  nest  in  the  alders  close  by. 

It  is  easy  to  conceive  a  state  in  which  all  animals  would  be 
tame,  but  it  would  not  be  the  state  of  nature  known  to  us  which 
has  developed  under  the  laws  of  battle,  the  survival  of  the 
strongest,  the  wariest,  the  best  protected  or  concealed,  or  the 
most  intelligent.  The  higher  animals  either  prey  on  one  an- 
other or  on  the  helpless  invertebrates,  or  are  preyed  upon,  and 
with  most,  tameness  would  soon  lead  to  extinction.  Wildness 
or  wariness  is  not  only  the  law  of  their  nature,  but  the  very 
condition  of  their  existence.  The  animal  which  fails  to  profit 
by  experience,  or  at  least  to  the  extent  of  learning  caution,  and 
thus  displaying  the  rudiments  of  intelligence,  must  go  to  the 
wall,  unless  the  conditions  of  its  life  are  exceptional  or  nature 
grants  it  some  extraordinary  favor  in  the  form  of  instincts, 
great  reproductive  powers,  or  protective  coloring. 

While  most  animals  are  wild  in  the  state  of  nature  and 
many  are  almost  untamable,  a  comparatively  large  number 


2  30 


Wild  Birds 


submit  to  the  taming  process,  and  a  few  become  tame  in  the  nat- 
ural state.  Whatever  principles  of  evolution  shall  eventually 
prove  to  be  true,  we  may  safely  regard  the  higher  vertebrates 
which  are  now  tame  in  their  natural  state  as  the  descendants  of 
wild  ancestors. 

As  a  rule,  no  wild  mammal  or  bird  approaches  man  without 
some  inducement.  Unless  some  other  instinct  be  aroused,  it 
comes,  if  at  all,  to  defend  or  feed  its  offspring,  to  appease  its 


Fig.   139.      Red-eyed  Vireo  cautiously  approaching  her  nest.      Compare 
such  attitudes  with  Figs.  60-63,  which  express  no  fear. 

hunger,  or  in  very  rare  cases  to  find  protection  from  danger. 
The  taming  process  depends,  as  we  have  just  seen,  upon  the 
ability  to  form  new  associations,  and  may  be  brought  about 
artificially  by  restraint  as  when  a  wild  animal  is  caged  and  new 
habits  are,  as  it  were,  forced  upon  it,  or  by  means  of  strong  lures. 
Of  the  latter,  one  of  the  best  is  food  in  the  presence  of  hunger, 
but  the  strongest  of  all  are  the  young  at  a  certain  stage  of 
growth.  In  order  to  tame  a  wild  animal  without  recourse  to 
restraint  there  must  be  some  means  of  breaking  the  ice,  or  begin- 
ning a  course  of  instruction,  by  chaining  it  to  a  fixed  point.  In 
case  of  birds  with  young  the  invisible  chain  is  parental  instinct, 
which  inhibits  fear  and  holds  the  animal  to  a  given  spot.  We 


Taming  Wild  Birds  without  a  Cage       231 

will  attempt  to  analyze  the  taming  process  by  the  use  of  food 
and  young  birds  as  lures,  and  finally  consider  the  similar  ex- 
periments which  nature  occasionally  conducts  independently 
and  on  a  larger  scale. 

I  throw  some  cracked  corn  out  of  my  window,  and  it  is  soon 


Fig.  140.  Male  Red-eyed  Vireo  prepared  to  inspect  and  clean  nest. 
Notice  that  in  this  series-Figs.  6l-*3-the  birds  uniformly  occupy  the 
same  perch. 

discovered  by  the  ubiquitous  Sparrows.  When  they  see  me 
standing  behind  the  pane  they  are  afraid  to  approach,  but  they 
are  also  hungry.  At  last  the  impulse  to  get  the  food  overcomes 
their  fears,  and  they  are  rewarded  by  the  feeling  of  pleasure  and 
satisfaction.  When  they  come  repeatedly,  each  time  reaping  a 
reward  without  evil  consequences,  a  new  habit  is  gradually 
formed  by  the  repetition  of  the  act.  The  pleasure  of  getting 
food  is  gradually  associated  with  flying  to  a  certain  spot  in  the 


232  Wild  Birds 

presence  of  objects  which  in  the  course  of  time  become  familiar. 
If  the  contrary  impulse,  due  in  this  case  to  hunger,  is  sufficiently 
strong,  the  process  may  be  carried  forward  step  by  step  until 
the  birds  come  to  the  hand  for  food.  With  the  gregarious 
Sparrow,  however,  life  in  a  populous  town  is  usually  too  com- 
plicated to  admit  of  carrying  out  the  experiment  with  success 
in  any  reasonable  time. 

There  are  many  species  which  respond  more  readily  than  the 
wily  Sparrow,  such  as  the  Chickadees  and  Nuthatches,  the  Wild 
Goose  and  the  Canada  Jay.  The  Chickadee  has  to  work  harder 
for  a  living  in  winter  than  the  Sparrow,  is  far  less  gregarious  and 
wary  by  nature,  and  is  seemingly  endowed  with  a  keen  sense  of 
curiosity.  The  little  Tits  or  Chickadees  become  very  tame  when 
hard  pressed  by  hunger  in  the  remote  woods,  and  I  have  no 
doubt  that  the  following  account,  which  was  given  to  me  by  a 
man  who  worked  at  a  woodchoppers'  camp  in  New  Hampshire 
during  the  winter,  is  strictly  true.  He  said  that  at  meal  times 
the  Chickadees  would  come  about  and  pick  up  any  crumbs  that 
were  left  over  or  were  thrown  to  them,  and  that  they  soon  be- 
came so  bold  as  to  al  ght  on  the  hand,  or  hat,  and  even  to  take 
pieces  of  bread  from  the  mouth ;  that  he  would  often  amuse  him- 
self by  trying  to  "close  over  them "  with  his  hand,  and  that  while 
they  were  usually  too  quick  for  him,  he  had  caught  them  in  this 
manner. 

The  familiarity  of  the  Canada  Jay  or  Meat  Bird  is  known  to 
everybody  who  has  hunted  or  camped  in  the  northern  woods; 
its  fear  is  allayed  by  hunger  even  more  promptly  than  in  Chicka- 
dees and  Nuthatches.  Audubon  says  of  these  birds  that  "when 
their  appetite  is  satisfied  they  become  shy,  and  are  in  the  habit 
of  hiding  themselves  among  close  woods  or  thickets;  but  when 
hungry  they  show  no  alarm  at  the  approach  of  man."  While 
his  friend  was  fishing  in  a  canoe  on  one  of  the  Maine  lakes  in  the 
summer  of  1833,  "the  Jays  were  so  fearless  as  to  alight  in  one 
end  of  his  bark,  while  he  sat  in  the  other,  and  help  themselves  to 
his  bait.  .  .  .  The  lumberers  or  woodcutters  of  this  State, 
.  .  .  frequently  amuse  themselves  in  their  camp  during  the 
eating  hour  with  what  they  call  'transporting  the  carrion  bird.' 


Taming  Wild  Birds  without  a  Cage       233 

This  is  done  by  cutting  a  pole  eight  or  ten  feet  in  length,  and 
balancing  it  on  the  sill  of  their  hut,  the  end  outside  of  the  en- 


Fig.  141.     Male  standing  at  nest  after  having  fed  his  young.     Notice  the  char- 
acteristic instinctive  pose  of  one  of  the  fledglings. 

trance  being  baited  with  a  piece  of  flesh  of  any  kind.  Immedi- 
ately on  seeing  the  tempting  morsel,  the  Jays  alight  on  it,  and 
while  they  are  busily  engaged  in  devouring  it,  the  woodcutter 
gives  a  smart  blow  to  the  end  of  the  pole  within  the  hut,  which 


234  Wild  Birds 

seldom  fails  to  drive  the  birds  high  in  the  air,  and  not  infre- 
quently kills  them.  They  even  enter  the  camps  and  would  fain 
eat  from  the  hands  of  the  men  while  at  their  meals.'.' 

Possibly  no  bird  has  keener  vision  or  sharper  ears  than  the 
Canada  Goose,  which  in  its  wild  state  is  said  to  be  vigilant, 
suspicious,  and  hard  to  be  surprised,  yet  it  is  often  easily  and 
quickly  tamed.  There  were  in  Cleveland  nearly  forty  of  these 
geese,  which  were  descended  from  a  smaller  number  introduced 
about  thirty  years  ago.  Their  migratory  impulse  was  com- 
pletely lost,  and  their  sense  of  fear  subdued,  but  their  other  wild 
instincts  remained.  They  lived  mostly  in  the  parks,  going  from 
one  to  another  as  the  spirit  moved  them,  and  bred  on  the  small 
artificial  islands  in  artificial  ponds.  I  often  heard  their  honk ! 
as  they  flew  over  the  city  at  night  or  in  early  morning,  and  saw 
their  "harrow"  or  "triangle"  which  plowed  the  air  by  day 
often  within  bow-shot  from  Euclid  Avenue. 

When  the  birds  were  feeding  on  a  lawn  you  could  walk 
among  them  and  drive  them  like  a  flock  of  tame  geese,  but  they 
hated  dogs  and  took  to  wing  or  water  the  moment  one  was  seen 
to  approach.  They  once  had  the  habit  of  alighting  on  the  roof 
of  a  tall  building  near  Wade  Park,  but  after  one  of  their  number 
met  with  the  mishap  of  falling  down  a  ventilating  shaft  this 
practice  seems  to  have  been  abandoned. 

On  one  of  his  shooting  excursions  Audubon  shot  a  wild  goose, 
and  on  his  return  sent  it  to  the  kitchen  to  be  prepared  for  the 
table.  The  cook  brought  him  an  egg  ready  to  be  laid.  This 
was  placed  under  a  hen,  and  in  due  time  produced  a  bird,  which 
became  very  gentle  and  would  feed  from  the  hand.  When  two 
years  old  it  mated  and  reared  a  family. 

We  have  seen  how  fear  may  vanish  before  the  surge  of  the 
parental  impulse  which  impels  a  bird  to  seek,  nourish,  and 
defend  its  offspring,  even  at  the  risk  of  life  itself,  and  will  now 
consider  how  this  instinct  may  be  used  in  taming  wild  birds  at 
the  nest  and  in  bringing  them  to  the  hand. 

If  young  birds  of  those  species  in  which  the  parental  in- 
stincts are  very  strong  are  taken  from  the  nest  when  nearly 
ready  to  fly,  the  old  birds,  especially  if  they  be  among  the  class 


Taming  Wild  Birds  without  a  Cage       235 

of  tamer  individuals,  may  be  brought  direct  to  the  hand  in  a 
short  space  of  time.     To  their  excited  vision  men  are  as  walking 


Fig.  142.  Young  Cedar-birds  in  displaced  nest  standing  in  characteristic  at- 
titude with  upturned  heads.  Photographed  on  day  of  flight,  July  17,  1899, 
when  possessed  of  fear.  For  account,  see  page  98. 

trees.  Their  attention  is  riveted  on  the  young,  and  the  man  is 
nothing  to  them,  provided  he  remains  quiet,  or  moves  about 
with  caution.  Whatever  fear  remains  is  blocked  by  the  stronger 
instinct  to  go  to  their  young. 


236 


Wild  Birds 


Every  occasion  on  which  the  tent  described  in  these  pages  is 
brought  up  to  a  nest  of  young  birds  is  a  direct  experiment  in  the 
taming  process.  No  matter  how  far  the  discipline  is  carried  or 

how  little  perman- 
ency it  may  pos- 
sess, the  principle 
is  always  the  same. 
By  this  method 
wild  birds,  while 
the  parental  in- 
stincts are  at  their 
height,  can  be 
tamed  to  a  degree 
without  use  of  a 
cage.  In  illustra- 
tion of  the  process, 
we  will  choose  the 
Chestnut-sided 
Warbler,  although 
the  experiments  to 
be  described  were 
not  carried  out 
with  this  end  es- 
pecially in  view. 
In  any  case  paren- 
tal instinct  was 
the  chief  agent 
employed. 

Two  nests  of  the 
Chestnut-sided  Warbler,  each  containing  fresh  eggs,  were  found 
in  a  pasture  on  the  twelfth  day  of  June.  The  behavior  of  the 
birds  at  both  nests  was  at  first  essentially  the  same,  so  far  as 
it  was  tested.  While  the  eggs  were  still  fresh,  the  nests  were 
often  visited  without  seeing  or  hearing  a  bird,  but  during  in- 
cubation the  female,  who  is  a  close  sitter,  would  allow  me  to 
approach  within  a  yard  or  two  feet.  Then  as  I  extended  my 
hand  slowly  toward  her  she  would  hop  out  and  cling  with  head 


Fig.  143.  Female  Chestnut-sided  'Warbler  approaching 
nest  and  looking  in.  At  this  time  there  were  eggs,  or  the 
young  had  barely  pipped  the  shell. 


Taming  Wild  Birds  without  a  Cage       237 

down  on  the  farther  side  of  the  nest,  so  that  only  her  little  tail 
was  visible  over  its  rim.  Any  one  prone  to  discover  protective 
mimicry  in  such  cases  would  find  a  striking  example  of  it  in 
this  attitude, — 
the  little  gray 
tail  of  the  bird 
simulatingso 
well  one  of  the 
twigs  which 
helped  to  sup- 
port the  gray 
wall  of  the  nest. 
It  was  rather 
the  case  of  an 
alert  animal  ly- 
ing still  or  in 
hiding  until  a 
present  danger 
might  be  past. 
If  you  kept  your 
position  long 
enough,  the  bird 
would  drop  to 
the  ground, 
where  joined  by 
her  mate  both 
would  hop 
about  in  the 

grass  chipping  nervously,  but  keeping  well  out  of  sight.  On 
approaching  one  of  the  nests  still  later  when  there  were  young, 
the  female  was  usually  overtaken  in  the  act  of  brooding.  At 
such  times  it  was  easy  to  walk  slowly  to  the  nest  and  place  your 
hand  close  to  the  brooding  bird.  But  before  allowing  you  actu- 
ally to  touch  her,  she  would  flit  to  the  grass,  and  with  spread 
wings  and  tail  practice  that  "art  of  feigning"  as  it  is  usually 
called,  although  it  is  not  an  art  or  anything  learned  or  practised 
for  the  occasion,  but  an  inherited  instinct,  the  end  and  advantage 


Fig.  144.     Female  Chestnut-sided  Warbler  inspecting  her 
young  after  having  served  food. 


238  Wild  Birds 

of  which  is  to  distract  your  attention  from  the  nest  to  the  moving 
bird.  One  day  I  stood  by  and  watched  the  little  mother  to  see 
how  long  her  antics  would  last.  She  would  come  within  a  yard 
of  my  feet  when  I  remained  perfectly  quiet,  and  trail  her  wings 
along  the  ground,  making  repeated  sallies  back  and  forth,  flying 
only  when  close  pressed,  and  then  always  away  from  her  nest. 
On  one  occasion  this  was  kept  up  from  ten  to  fifteen  minutes, 
and  did  not  cease  until  I  withdrew. 

My  experiments  at  the  first  nest  were  begun  on  June  i2th, 
by  clearing  away  the  bushes  in  front.  The  tent  was  set  up  two 
feet  away  on  the  morning  of  the  isth,  while  the  little  hen  was 
still  sitting  over  the  eggs.  She  would  dart  out  of  the  nest 
return  and  take  a  peep  inside,  sit  for  a  few  minutes  and  be  off. 
When  all  was  quiet,  she  could  be  seen  jumping  in  and  out  re- 
peatedly, as  if  equally  uncomfortable  whether  away  from  her 
treasures  or  hugging  them  close.  In  the  course  of  half  an  hour 
it  was  easy  to  photograph  the  sitting  bird,  who  now  paid  little 
heed  to  the  shutter,  and  remained  undisturbed  on  the  nest 
during  my  preparation  for  leaving. 

On  the  following  day  the  old  bird  was  still  persistently  sitting, 
and  even  allowed  me  to  erect  the  tent  close  beside  her  without 
budging.  When  finally  driven  off  by  the  hand,  she  uttered  a 
few  tseeps  and  returned  in  a  moment.  Once  the  male  came, 
and  as  I  supposed  placed  an  insect  in  the  nest,  when  his  mate, 
who  stood  close  by,  hopped  to  the  brim,  put  down  her  head,  and 
as  I  thought  ate  the  food,  but  no,  she  was  feeding  the  little  ones, 
for  she  was  now  a  mother.  Four  young  birds,  scarcely  bigger 
than  bumblebees,  had  just  emerged  from  their  shells.  They 
must  have  been  hatched  since  noon  of  the  previous  day. 

On  the  third  day  these  Warblers  paid  no  attention  to  either 
the  tent  or  the  operator,  and  before  going  away  I  was  able  to 
touch  the  bird  on  the  nest,  though  not  without  sending  her  off. 
The  fourth  day  found  their  confidence  undiminished,  for  the 
sitting  bird  eagerly  seized  a  grasshopper  which  I  offered  from 
the  hand  stretched  through  the  tent  window.  Four  days  later 
still  I  spent  nearly  seven  hours  with  these  Warblers,  and  in  the 
afternoon  began  to  test  more  systematically  the  strength  of  the 


Taming  Wild  Birds  without  a  Cage       239 

intimacy  which  we  had  cultivated.  Taking  a  long  twig  in  the 
hand  and  reaching  through  the  window  in  the  front  of  the  tent, 
I  touched  the  old  bird.  She  resented  this  but  little,  and  when 
her  back  was  scratched  seemed  to  like  the  sensation.  Then  I 
left  the  tent  to  look  for  insects,  and  after  a  long  search  returned 


Fig.  145.  Offering  grasshopper  to  a  Chestnut-sided  Warbler  who  has  been  tamed 
without  use  of  a  cage.  It  was  possible  to  approach  this  bird  and  stroke  her  back 
with  the  hand,  without  giving  alarm. 

with  a  few  small  grasshoppers.  When  one  of  these  was  offered, 
the  bird  would  eye  the  squirming  insect  and  try  to  seize  it  when 
held  within  reach.  Wishing  to  economize,  I  held  on  to  the 
insect  and  nearly  pulled  the  bird  off  the  nest. 

After  discarding  the  tent  I  was  able  to  walk  up  to  this  bird 
and  stroke  her  back  with  my  hand  without  disturbing  her  in 
the  least.  Setting  up  the  camera  outside  and  attaching  a  tube 
with  pneumatic  bulb  at  the  end,  I  made  a  number  of  photographs 


240  Wild  Birds 

which  show  the  Warbler  sharply  eying  an  insect  and  prepared 
to  seize  it  when  held  a  few  inches  away.  It  would  have  been 
an  easy  matter  to  take  her  in  the  hand,  though  possibly  not 
without  injury  to  the  young.  Their  early  flight  from  the  nest 
cut  short  any  further  experiments,  but  what  could  not  have 
been  done  with  a  bird  who  had  become  so  tame  and  confiding 
in  the  course  of  a  few  days  ? 

The  foregoing  account  does  not  necessarily  imply  that  a 
wild  bird  can  be  induced  to  remain  docile  in  the  presence  of  man 
for  any  great  length  of  time  while  still  enjoying  the  freedom  of 
its  wild  life.  If  the  lesson  learned  is  to  be  a  permanent  acquisi- 
tion, it  must  be  often  repeated,  and  no  other  teachers  allowed 
to  interfere.  To  effect  this  the  animal  must,  as  a  rule,  be  placed 
under  restraint  or  in  a  cage,  where  its  experiences  are  more  uni- 
form, more  limited,  and  under  perfect  control. 

In  free  life  a  new  habit  must  struggle  with  other  competitors 
and  is  liable  to  be  suppressed  quickly.  However,  I  think  it  has 
been  clearly  shown  that  in  the  beginnings  of  the  taming  process 
which  have  been  illustrated,  where  no  physical  restraint  is  used, 
the  sense  of  fear  must  be  combated  by  a  stronger  and  contrary 
impulse,  such  as  hunger  or  the  parental  instincts,  which  will 
lead  the  bird  to  undergo  new  experiences,  and  finally  to  adopt 
new  habits. 

That  many  birds  become  tame  in  a  state  of  nature  is  well 
known  and  the  subject  is  full  of  interest.  The  Pine  Grosbeak  is 
as  good  an  illustration  of  the  fact  as  may  be  found  in  this  part  of 
the  world.  I  remember  meeting  a  flock  of  these  plump,  stalwart- 
looking  birds  in  a  grove  of  sapling  pines  on  the  last  day  of 
February.  The  woods  on  every  side  were  hoary  with  snow 
which  had  been  falling  for  hours.  When  a  young  pine  drooping 
under  its  weight  of  snow  suddenly  blossomed  with  a  bright  com- 
pany of  these  birds,  you  might  travel  far  to  find  a  more  attractive 
winter  picture.  A  bird  would  sometimes  drop  on  a  branch,  and 
settle  down  as  if  going  to  sleep.  Then  suddenly  aroused  by  the 
desire  for  food  he  would  sidle  to  the  end  of  the  bough,  pick  out 
the  terminal  or  largest  bud,  twirl  it  between  his  stout  cone- 
shaped  mandibles  to  get  rid  of  the  scales,  and  then  swallow  the 


Taming  Wild  Birds  without  a  Cage       241 

resinous  morsel.  After  seeing  this  experiment  performed  a  good 
many  times,  I  selected  a  handsome  male,  walked  up  to  him,°and 
caught  him  with  my  hat,  as  if  he  were  a  butterfly.  When  I 
stooped  to  pick  him  off  the  snow,  he  squeaked  and  struck  vio- 


Fig.  146.  Chestnut-sided  Warbler  family.  The  male,  perched 
above,  has  just  delivered  an  insect  to  his  mate,  who  quickly 
passed  it  to  the  young  and  continued  to  brood. 

lently  with  his  beak,  uttering  a  peculiar  car-r-r-r-r!  When 
placed  on  the  snow  again  he  flapped  about  for  a  few  moments 
resisting  every  attempt  to  take  him,  and  finally  rose  and  dis- 
appeared among  the  snow-laden  trees.  There  were  about  fifty 
birds  in  this  flock  and  the  grove  resounded  with  their  clear 
whistled  notes.  They  were  easily  approached  at  all  times  and 
in  all  weathers,  during  the  early  weeks  of  their  visit,  agreeing  in 


242  Wild  Birds 

this  respect  with  the  Bohemian  Waxwing,  the  Arctic  repre- 
sentative of  the  Cedar-bird. 

This  tameness  found  among  many  Arctic  species  has  been  met 
with  on  a  much  wider  scale  in  remote  oceanic  islands,  where  man 
is  almost  unknown  and  where  the  conditions  of  life  are  very 
different  from  those  of  the  mainland.  Darwin  remarks  I  that 
the  most  anomalous  fact  on  this  subject  which  he  had  met  was 
the  wildness  of  certain  small  birds  in  the  Arctic  portions  of 
North  America,  while  some  of  the  same  species  were  said  to  be 
tame  in  their  winter  quarters  in  the  United  States.  "How 
strange  it  is,"  says  he,  "that  the  English  wood-pigeon,  generally 
so  wild  a  bird,  should  very  frequently  rear  its  young  in  shrub- 
beries close  to  houses!" 

Respecting  the  wildness  which  birds  exhibit  towards  man, 
Darwin  could  find  no  way  of  accounting  for  it  except  as  in- 
herited habit,  but  in  another  work,  he  thus  refers  to  the  same 
subject 2:  "If  we  look  to  successive  generations,  or  to  the  race, 
there  is  no  doubt  that  birds  and  other  animals  gradually  both 
acquire  and  lose  caution  in  relation  to  man  and  other  enemies ; 
and  this  caution  is  certainly  in  chief  part  an  inherited  habit  or 
instinct,  but  in  part  the  result  of  individual  experience." 

The  observations  which  have  been  made  on  the  behavior  of 
old  and  young  birds  do  not  support  any  theory  of  the  inheritance 
of  habits  to  account  for  tameness  in  animals,  but  as  already 
shown  afford  a  better  clue  of  how  this  has  been  brought  about. 
Let  us  go  back  to  the  Pine  Grosbeak  which,  when  fresh  from  his 
sub-Arctic  home,  can  be  approached  and  caught  with  your  hat 
as  could  many  of  the  birds  in  the  Galapagos  Islands  when 
Darwin  visited  them  in  1835.  So  far  as  I  know,  no  one  has 
studied  the  young  of  this  species  in  the  nest  and  ascertained 
whether  they  show  the  same  instincts  of  fear  in  general  toward 
strange  sights  and  sounds,  as  we  find  in  passerine  birds  nesting 
farther  south.  Assuming  that  they  do,  and  there  can  be  little 
doubt  of  it,  the  instinct  has  lapsed  through  disuse  in  adult  life, 
although  the  capacity  of  expressing  fear  remains  and  may  be 

1  Journal  of  Researches,  chapter  xvii. 

2  The  Descent  of  Man,  p.  80. 


Taming  Wild  Birds  without  a  Cage       243 

quickly  aroused  and  directed  towards  particular  objects.  The 
timidity  of  this  bird  in  March  after  a  brief  experience  with  the 
ways  of  men  is  therefore  virtually  an  acquired  character,  and 
there  is  no  evidence  that  it  is  handed  down  by  inheritance. 

The  breeding  range  of  many  northern  birds  covers  a  vast  area, 
and  in  different  sections  there  is  reason  to  expect  much  variation 
in  the  habits  of  the  same  species.  The  timidity  of  the  Arctic 
birds  referred  to  may  have  been  due  to  local  conditions  affecting 
a  relatively  small  number,  or  the  birds  may  have  been  young 
individuals  whose  intuitive  fear  had  not  been  worn  away,  or  old 
ones  possessed  of  a  wisdom  derived  from  extensive  travel  south- 
ward. Among  birds  which  are  reputed  to  be  shy,  tamer  indi- 
viduals are  to  be  found,  and  many  acquire  the  habit  of  nesting  in 
gardens  and  often  close  to  houses.  In  the  Galapagos  Islands, 
where  birds  had  lived  in  comparative  security  for  ages  with  no 
fierce  and  relentless  enemies  to  mar  their  tranquillity,  the  in- 
stinct of  fear  had  not  only  lapsed,  but  the  power  of  forming  new 
habits  had  weakened.  It  is  therefore  not  surprising  that  they 
should  be  slow  in  acquiring  a  fear  of  man,  but  any  animal  which 
finally  fails  in  the  face  of  constant  persecution  to  profit  by  ex- 
perience has  touched  the  lowest  depths  of  stupidity,  and  its 
days  are  numbered. 


INDEX 


Abdomen,  size  and  secondary  use 
of,  in  young,  220 

Accessories,  or  bird-photographer's 
outfit,  enumerated,  71 

Alarm  calls,  in  House  Wren,  39 ; 
in  Great  Herring  Gull,  55;  in 
Catbird,  122;  in  Robin,  223;  ef- 
fect of,  upon  birds  of  other  spe- 
cies, 224 

Allantois,  or  respiratory  sac,  eaten 
by  Gull,  173 

Allen,  Charles  A.,  218 

Alligator,  nest  and  guarding  in- 
stinct of,  146 

Altrices,  definition  of,  214;  devel- 
opment of  fear  in  young  of,  219; 
fate  of  young  due  to  premature 
development  of  fear  in,  219-220; 
specialization  of  fear  in  young  of, 
221 

Animal  behavior,  qualifications  of 
the  student  of,  xix;  interest  and 
difficulties  in  study  of,  194;  gen- 
eral theory  and  analysis  of,  195- 
196 

Animal  photography,  general  re- 
quirements of,  in  birds,  63-68 

Animals,  the  evil  of  anthropomor- 
phism in  study  of,  xvii;  duty  and 
privilege  of  student  of,  xviii;  the 
responses  and  hereditary  equip- 
ment of,  195-196;  vulgar  error 
concerning,  229;  variable  per- 
sonalities of,  229;  winning  con- 
fidence of,  229-232;  origin  of 
natural  wildness  and  tameness 
of,  229,  243;  conditions  of  tam- 
ing, 230-231 

Anthropomorphism,  evil  of,  in 
study  of  animal  behavior,  xvii 

Approach  to  the  wild  bird,  the 
problem  of,  and  its  solution,  66 


Audubon,  John   James,   xxi,    146, 
182,  189,  232,  234 


Baltimore  Oriole.     See  Oriole 
Bees  and  ants,  the  instincts  of,  203 
Bird-photography.       See    Photog- 
raphy 
Bird-study,  history  of  new  method 

of,  xix 

Birds,  guiding  senses  of,  6;  rudi- 
mentary condition  of  olfactory 
organ  in,  6 ;  number  of  species  of, 
7 ;  emotional  life  of ,  7 ;  tempera- 
ture of  body  of,  7;  routine  in 
home  life  of,  9,  90,  199;  pug- 
nacity of,  10 ;  actions  of,  when 
nest  is  robbed,  13-14;  attach- 
ment to  nest,  eggs,  and  young  in, 
15,  27;  effect  of  noise  of  photo- 
graphic shutter  upon,  15,  68;  ef- 
fect of  sounds  upon,  15,  207; 
maternal  instincts  of,  15;  appear- 
ance of  feather-shafts  in  young 
of,  16;  behavior  of,  after  change 
of  nesting  site,  20,  49,  74,  118; 
individualities  of ,  20,  72;  interest 
in  watching  nesting  habits  of,  at 
short  range,  33-34;  respiration  of 
(Redwing  Blackbird),  47;  diges- 
tion, assimilation,  and  growth  of 
young  of,  106,  186-188,  193; 
sleep  of,  112;  effect  of  alarm  calls 
of,  on  birds  of  other  species,  124, 
224;  care  of  eggs  by,  170-171; 
treatment  of  cast-off  shells  by, 
172;  care  of  young  in  nest  of,  173; 
discrimination  of  eggs  by,  173; 
brooding  attitudes  of,  175-180; 
spreading  of,  in  sun,  177-178; 
behavior  of,  during  incubation, 
179,  224;  gaping  and  yawning 


245 


246 


Index 


Birds — Continued. 

of,  1 80;  automatic  response  in 
gullet  of  young  of,  181,  182,  199, 
economy  of  food  in,  183,  193; 
struggles  with  insects  at  nest  of, 
184;  inspection  and  cleaning  of 
nest  in,  188-193;  use  °f  excreta 
of  young  as  food  by,  189-193; 
force  of  habit  displayed  in,  204; 
adaptability  of,  207;  change  of 
diet  in,  210;  mental  life  of,  212; 
fear  in  old  and  young  of,  214- 
227;  use  of  pot-belly  in  young  of, 
220;  lack  of  discrimination  in 
young  of,  221;  taming  of,  230; 
tanieness  of,  in  nature,  240;  at 
Galapagos  Islands,  242;  wild- 
ness  of,  in  Arctic  America,  242; 
(see  under  names  of  species) 

Blackbird,  Crow,  or  Purple  Grackle 
(Quiscalus  quiscala) ,  nest-clean- 
ing instincts  of,  189 

Blackbird,  European  (Merulaatra), 
habits  of,  178;  food  of,  181 

Blackbird,  Redwing  (Agelaeus  phce- 
niceus),  preparation  of  nesting 
site  of,  for  use  of  tent,  45 ;  be- 
havior of,  47 ;  erection  of  feathers 
in  female  of,  47;  respiration  of, 
47 ;  flight  of  young  from  nest  of, 
48;  eating  of  excreta  of  young 
by,  189;  force  of  habit  displayed 
in,  208-209 

Black  cherry  tree  as  aviary  in  late 
summer,  102 

Blackwall,  John,  xxi,  189 

Bluebird  (Sialia  sialis),  feeding 
young  in,  73  ;  arrival  of,  at  Cleve- 
land, O.,  84;  call-notes  of,  115; 
choice  and  care  of  nesting  site  in, 
1 1 6 ;  displacement  of  nest  of,  1 1 6 ; 
general  habits  of,  116-121;  nest- 
hole  of,  116;  polygamy  in,  116; 
behavior  of,  after  removal  of 
nest,  1 1 8 ;  strength  of  parental  in- 
stincts in,  1 1 8,  121 ;  use  of  tail 
for  support  in,  1 1 8 ;  food  of  young 
of,  120;  nest- cleaning  of,  120; 
defense  of  nest  of,  121;  individu- 
ality and  pugnacity  of,  121;  num- 
ber of  broods  of,  121;  rate  of 
feeding  young  in,  121;  repair  of 
nest  in,  121 

Breeding  season,  lateness  of,  in 
Cedar-bird  and  Goldfinch,  87 


Brooding  in  Robin,  46,  47,  173- 
174;  in  Redwing  Blackbird,  47; 
in  Red-eyed  Vireo,  112;  in  Night 
Hawk,  134;  in  Cedar-bird,  173; 
importance  of,  173;  in  Brown 
Thrush,  174;  in  Kingbird,  174— 
175;  in  Chestnut-sided  Warbler, 
175;  behavior  of  birds  in,  179; 
in  Flicker,  224 

Broods,  number  of,  in  Robin  and 
Bluebird,  12;  in  House  Sparrow, 
13;  in  domestic  Pigeon,  13 

Brown  Thrush.     See  Thrush 

Burlington  (Vt.),  arrival  of  Robins 
at,  84;  nest  of  Black  Duck  at, 
219 


Cairo,  Shoe-Bill  in  zoological  gar- 
dens of,  178 

Call- notes  of  Cedar-bird,  37,  92; 
of  House  Wren,  40;  of  Robin, 
77;  of  Red-eyed  Vireo,  103;  of 
Bluebird,  115;  of  Night  Hawk, 
134;  of  Kingfisher,  139—140 

Camera,  value  of,  in  portrayal  of 
animals  in  action,  xxiv;  its  rela- 
tion to  the  work  of  the  artist, 
xx  v;  size,  construction,  best 
forms  of,  for  field  work,  63 ;  the 
twin  lens,  65 ;  the  reflecting,  in- 
vention, and  history  of ,  65 

Cats;  as  enemies  of  young  birds,  28 ; 
how  to  protect  young  birds  from, 
29,  63 

Catbird  (Galeoscoptes  carolinensis), 
shyness  of,  14,  122;  alarm  notes 
of,  122;  minute  observations  on, 
122-128;  behavior  of  young  of, 
124,  126,  128;  development  of 
wing-quills  in  young  of ,  125,  128; 
rate  of  feeding  young  in,  126; 
suppression  of  fear  in,  126;  cap- 
ture_of  dragon- flies  by,  127;  eat- 
ing of  excreta  of  young  by,  128; 
attracted  by  alarm  of  Robin,  224 

Cedar-bird,  Cedar- Waxwing  (Am- 
pelis  cedroruni),  the  nesting  of, 
36,87-91,93;  removal  of  nesting 
bough  of,  36,  91;  call-notes  of, 
37,92;  care  of  young  by,  38,  92, 
100;  flight  of  young  of,  38,  98; 
winter  flocks  of,  52;  spring  and 


Index 


247 


Cedar-  Bird — Continued. 

fall  behavior  of,  86,  87;  late 
breeding  of,  86;  breeding  season 
of,  at  Northfield,  N.  H.,  86;  quiet 
nature  of,  87;  appendages  to 
feathers  of  wings  and  tails  in 
young  and  adult  of,  87;  food  of, 
87,  102;  favorite  nesting  trees 
and  bushes  of,  88;  position,  ma- 
terials, and  construction  of  nest 
of,  88-89,  147;  eggs,  and  num- 
ber of  young  of,  reared,  90;  early 
weakness  of  parental  instincts  of, 
90;  desertion  of  nest  in,  90;  the 
hatching  of,  90,  187;  routine  in 
nesting  habits  of,  90,  95;  re- 
gurgitation  of  food  for  young  in, 
92,  100;  number  of  berries  car- 
ried in  gullet  of.  92;  function  of 
gullet  in,  92,  181;  inspection  and 
cleaning  the  nest  by,  93 .  1 89 ;  sud- 
den appearance  of  sense  of  fear  in 
nestlings  of,  93,  98 ;  time  occupied 
in  building  nest  by,  93;  laying, 
incubating,  and  hatching  of  eggs 
in,  93,  94;  young  of,  at  birth, 
94;  age  of  young  of,  when  eyes 
open,  94;  development  of  black 
line  through  eye  in,  99 ;  upright 
postures  in  young  and  adult  of, 
99.  100;  rate  of  feeding  of  young 
in,  100 ;  similarity  in  sexes  of, 
101;  nocking  of,  in  August,  102; 
habit  of  sipping  maple  sap  in, 
102;  gaping  habit  in,  1 80;  glut- 
tony of,  181-182  ;  peculiar  signals 
at  nest  of,  183;  rate  of  growth 
and  weight  of  young  of,  187-188; 
eating  excreta  of  young  by,  190; 
parasites  in  nest  of,  191;  reac- 
tions of  mother  and  child  in, 
198-199 

Chebec  or  Least  Flycatcher  (Em- 
pidonax  minimus) ,  nesting  scene 
of,  61;  nest-building  and  re- 
markable nest  of,  159 

Cherry  Bird.     See  Cedar-bird 

Chick,  domestic,  development  and 
hatching  of,  170-172;  instincts 
of,  218-219 

Chickadee      (Pants      atricapillus), 
during  incubation,    179;   cleanli- 
ness of,  188;  attracted  by  Robin's 
alarm,  224;  habits  and  tameness 
of,  232 


Cicada,  eaten  by  young  of  Cedar- 
bird,  10 1 ;  struggles  of  King- 
birds with,  184;  of  House  Spar- 
row with,  1 86 

Clamp,  the  "Graphic"  ball-and- 
socket,  68 

Cleaning  instinct,  188.  See  In- 
stinct 

Cleveland,  O.,  spring  arrival  of 
Robins  and  Bluebirds  at,  84; 
Canada  geese  at,  234 

Color,  discrimination  of,  in  Cedar- 
bird,  93;  in  Robin,  158 

Cowbird  (Molothrus  ater),  young  of, 
in  Warbler's  nest,  222;  nursed 
by  Chipping  Sparrow,  222 

Crossbills,  American  (Loxia  cur- 
virostra  minor),  early  nesting  of, 

87 

Crow  (Corvus  americanus) ,  dis- 
placement of  nest  of,  24 

Cuckoo  (Coccyzus) ,  young  of  Eng- 
lish, reared  by  Titlarks,  xxi;  ap- 
pearance of  feather-shafts  in,  1 6 

Cycle,  the  reproductive,  in  birds, 
7;  minor  components  of,  9; 
repetition  of,  12,  13 


D 


Darwin,  Charles,  242 

Dearborn,  Ned,  21 

Development,  of  chick,  170;  length 
of  period  of,  in  birds,  172;  and 
growth  of  Cedar  Waxwing,  187- 
188 

Dragon-fly,  capture  and  killing  of, 
by  Kingbirds,  52,  184;  as  food  of 
young  Warbling  Vireos,  53;  as 
food  of  young  Catbirds,  123,  127 

Duck,  Black  (Anas  obscura),  ab- 
sence of  fear  in  newly  hatched 
young  of,  218;  nesting  of,  219; 
behavior  of  young  of,  when  pos- 
sessed of  fear,  219 


Eagle,  behavior  of,  when  nesting, 

compared    with    that    of    Night 

Hawk,  130-131 
Earthworms,  fed  to  young  Robins, 

75,  79;    habits  and  tropisms  of, 

196,  197 


248 


Index 


Economy  of  food,  in  Robin,  74; 
in  Red-eyed  Vireo,  109;  in  the 
Kingbird  1 83 

Edwards,  Professor  C.  L.,  170 

Eggs,  by  Flicker,  13;  largest  num- 
ber of,  produced  by  domestic 
fowls,  13 ;  strength  of  attachment 
to,  27;  treatment  of,  when  ad- 
dled, by  Tern,  33-34;  of  King- 
bird, 49 ;  incubation  of,  in  Robin, 
72;  lateness  of  laying  of,  in  Ce- 
dar-bird, 90;  laying  and  incuba- 
tion of,  in  Cedar-bird,  93-94; 
hatching  of,  in  Night  Hawk,  129; 
treatment  of,  by  Gulls,  165; 
' '  runt ' '  and  abnormal  variations 
of,  167;  color  and  size  of,  168; 
the  turning  of,  by  Gull,  169,-! 71; 
time  of  laying  of,  in  Chipping 
Sparrow,  169;  development  of, 
in  fowl,  170;  physiological  zero- 
point  of,  in  fowl,  170;  treatment 
of,  by  domestic  and  wild  birds, 
171;  treatment  of  cast-off  shells 
of,  172;  behavior  of  birds  when 
incubating,  179;  relation  of  size 
of,  to  condition  of  young  at  birth, 
214;  of  Canada  Goose  hatched 
under  hen,  234 

Egg-tooth,  172 

Egypt,  ancient  illustrations  of 
bird-life  of,  xxii,  177-178 

Embryo,  growth  of,  in  fowl,  170- 
172 

Excreta,  disposition  of,  by  House 
Wren,  43 ;  actions  of  Cedar-birds 
in  taking,  devouring,  or  remov- 
ing, from  nest,  98,  99,  191;  dis- 
posal of,  by  parents,  188-193; 
character  of,  in  young  passerine 
birds,  189;  use  of,  as  food  by 
adult  birds,  189-190;  nest-clean- 
ing in  Flicker,  191;  use  of,  as  food 
in  Chestnut-sided  Warblers,  193 

Experiments  in  change  of  nest- 
site  tabulated,  21 

Eyes,  opening  of,  in  young  Cedar- 
birds,  94,  1 88;  in  young  Red- 
eyed  Vireo,  103 


Fauna   of   Galapagos   Islands,    pe- 
culiar character  of,  242,  243 


Fear,  the  suppression  of,  6,  14;  de- 
velopment of,  in  relation  to  ap- 
pearance of  feather-shafts  of 
wings,  1 6;  in  Cedar-bird,  37,  95, 
102;  suppression  of,  in  House 
Wren,  39-41;  in  Redwing  Black- 
bird, 47;  in  Kingbird,  49;  in 
Catbird,  76,  78;  in  Robin,  77; 
appearance  of,  in  young  Cedar- 
bird,  97,  98;  in  young  of  Red- 
eyed  Vireo,  no;  suppression  of, 
in  adult  Bluebird,  116,  117;  de- 
velopment of,  in  young  Catbirds, 
128;  checked  by  brooding  in- 
stinct, 179;  nature,  time  of  ap- 
pearance, sudden  ^manifestation, 
and  adaptive  value  of,  214-217; 
in  Kingfisher,  217;  instinct  of, 
in  domestic  chick,  218;  in  duck- 
lings of  Black  Duck,  218;  of 
Hawk  in  sky,  expressed  by  chick, 
219;  distinction  between  inher- 
ited and  acquired,  221;  expres- 
sion of,  in  Robin,  223;  in  the 
Flicker,  224;  checked  by  hunger, 
240 

Feathers,  development  of,  as  guide 
in  controlling  nesting  site,  16; 
development  of,  in  Cuckoos,  16; 
in  Cedar-bird,  87,  99;  develop- 
ment of,  in  Red-eyed  Vireos,  103, 
no;  in  Catbirds,  125,  128;  in 
Kingfisher,  140,  141;  in  Night 
Hawk,  129,  135;  development 
of,  relation  to  fear,  217 

Feather-shafts,  appendages  of,  in 
Cedar- bird,  87 

Field-notes,  method  of  recording, 
70 

Fighting  instinct.     See  Pugnacity 

Fireflies  as  food  of  young  Night 
Hawk,  134 

Fish,  captured  by  Kingfisher,  138; 
resources  of  Kingfisher  to  pre- 
vent escape  of,  145 

Flash  Gun,  70 

Flicker  (Colaptes  auratus) ,  the  egg- 
laying  capacity  of,  13;  sense  of 
fear  blocked  by  brooding  in- 
stinct in,  27;  strength  of  brood- 
ing instinct  in,  224;  feeding 
young  of,  224-226 

Fly,  robber  (Asilus),  fed  to  young 
of  Bluebird,  118,  120;  escape  of, 
from  grasp  of  Kingbird,  183-184 


Index 


249 


Focusing-cloth,  adjustment  of,  in 
tent,  60-6 1 

Food,  of  young  Cedar-birds,  38,  92, 
100 ;  of  the  House  Wren,  43 ;  econ- 
omy of,  in  Kingbird,  52,  183;  of 
Kingbird,  52,  183,  184,  209-210; 
of  young  Robins,  74,  82,  210;  of 
Robin  in  summer  and  winter, 
83-84;  of  Cedar-bird,  87,  102; 
distribution  of,  to  nestlings  ex- 
plained, 92;  and  its  distribution 
in  Red-eyed  Vireos,  108-110; 
economy  of,  in  Red-eyed  Vireos, 
109;  of  young  Bluebirds,  120;  of 
young  Catbirds,  127-128;  of 
young  Night  Hawk,  134;  of  young 
Kingfishers,  140,  144;  of  Euro- 
pean Blackbird,  181 ;  economy  of, 
in  Chestnut-sided  Warbler,  193; 
of  birds  under  exceptional  con- 
ditions, 2 1 1 ;  of  young  Flicker,  226 

Foster-children,  treatment  of,  by 
Kingbird,  51;  treatment  of,  by 
Chipping  Sparrow,  222-223 

Fowl  (Callus  bankiva  var.  domes- 
tica),  production  of  eggs  in,  13; 
strength  of  incubating  instinct 
in,  27,  179;  physiological  zero- 
point  in  development  of,  170; 
normal  temperature  in  develop- 
ment of,  170;  eating  its  eggs, 
170;  turning  its  eggs,  171 

Fruits,  fed  to  young  by  Cedar- 
birds,  38,  100 ;  fed  to  young,  by 
Robins,  83;  eaten  by  Robin  in 
winter.  83;  cultivated,  eaten  as 
makeshift,  83-84;  served  to 
young  of  Red-eyed  Vireos,  no; 
served  to  young,  of  Catbird,  128 


Galapagos  Islands,  observations  of 

Darwin  on  fauna  of,  242,  243 
Gaping,  habit  of,  in  birds,  180 
Gluttony  in  Cedar-birds,  181-182 
Goldfinch,  American  (Spinus  tris- 
tis) ,  lateness  of  breeding  and  food 
of  young  of,   87;    attracted  by 
Robin's  alarm,  224 
Goose,    Canada    (Branta    canaden- 
sis),  tameability  and  breeding  of, 

Grampus   (Corydalus  cornutus),  as 


food  of  young  Kingbirds,  186, 
187 

Grasshoppers,  treatment  of,  by 
Wrens,  41,  74,  100,  118 

Groos,  Karl,  xviii 

Grosbeak,  Pine  (Pinicola  enuclea- 
tor),  habits,  and  relative  tame- 
ness  of,  in  winter  and  spring, 
240;  capture  of  male  of,  with 
hat,  241;  character  of  fear  in, 
242-243 

Gull,  Great  Herring  (Larus  argen- 
tatus  smithsonianus) ,  diffusion  of 
nest-building  instinct  in,  12;  ap- 
plication of  method  to  the  study 
of,  34;  nest-cleaning  of,  55; 
alarm  calls  of,  55;  sleeping  hab- 
its of,  112;  significance  of  grass- 
pulling  and  wood-splitting  habits 
of,  163-165;  repair  of  nests  in, 
164-165;  turning  of  eggs  by, 
171;  the  eating  of  the  allantois, 
or  respiratory  sac,  by,  173 

Gullet,  automatic  response  of,  in 
young  birds,  92,  182,  198,  199; 
distensibility  of,  in  the  Cedar- 
bird,  92,  100 ;  effect  of  full,  in 
young,  181 


H 


Habit,  definition  and  illustrations 
of,  204-207;  of  sipping  maple 
sap  in  Cedar-bird,  101;  manner 
of  approach  to  nest  of  Red-eyed 
Vireo,  206;  of  walking  backward 
and  sitting  still  in  young  King- 
fishers, explained,  136;  of  eating 
excreta,  how  acquired  in  a 
hungry  bird,  193;  illustration  of , 
in  nest-cleaning,  208;  plasticity 
of,  in  reference  to  food,  210,  211; 
of  fear  of  special  obiects,  221, 
227;  inheritance  of,  212;  evolu- 
tion of,  213 

Hawks,  instinct  of  spreading  over 
prey  in,  202;  feeding  on  locusts, 
2ii ;  effect  of,  on  chicks,  219 

Hunger,  effect  of,  on  nestlings,  198- 
199  in  relation  to  fear,  230-23 1 


Incubation,  period  of,  in  Kingbird, 
49;  in  Robin,  72;  in  Cedar- bird, 


250 


Index 


Incubation,  period  of, — Continued. 
93-94;  in  Chipping  Sparrow, 
170;  origin  and  evolution  of  in- 
stinct of,  146;  behavior  of  birds 
during,  179 

Insects,  treatment  of,  by  Wrens,  41 ; 
struggles  of  birds  with,  184-186; 
instincts  of,  203 

Inspection  of  young  and  nest,  the 
importance  and  significance  of, 
188-193;  {see  also  under  names 
of  species) 

Instincts  and  life  of  birds,  the  needs 
of  the  student  of,  xxi ;  Select 
bibliography  of,  xxiii;  the  build- 
ing (see  Nest- Building) ;  as  key  to 
problem  of  approach  to  wild 
birds,  6  (see  also  under  names  of 
species);  the  parental,  analysis 
of,  6,  7;  the  fighting,  10  (see  Pug- 
nacity); of  fear,  suppression  of, 
by  parental  instincts,  14-15  (see 
Fear);  in  Great  Herring  Gull,  55; 
of  preening  in  young,  104;  prey- 
ing, in  young  Red-eyed  Vireos, 
1 08;  of  hiding  or  concealment  in 
relation  to  eggs,  147;  of  shield- 
ing or  spreading  over  young, 
176-178;  of  inspection  and  sani- 
tation in  birds,  188-193;  defini- 
tion and  analysis  of,  196-198; 
illustrations  of ,  198-203;  of  nest- 
ling, 198,  199;  relation  of,  to  re- 
flexes, 199-200 ;  of  Chimney  Swift 
in  nest-building,  208;  use  of  par- 
ental, in  taming  birds,  234-240; 
of  "feigning"  in  Chestnut-sided 
Warbler,  237 

Intelligence,  the  marks  of,  211- 
212;  evolution  of,  213 


J 


Jay,  Canada,  Moosebird  (Perisoreus 
canadensis) ,  tameness  and  habits 
of,  232-233 


K 


Kearton,  the  brothers,  blinds  de- 
signed by,  58-59 

Kingbird  (Tyrannus  tyrannus},  the 
time  spent  by  young  of,  in  dis- 
placed nest,  26;  the  breeding  of, 
49;  habits  and  nest-life  of,  49- 


53;  disposal  of  excreta  by,  105; 
economy  of  food,  in  183 ;  exciting 
scenes  at  nest  of ,  184;  attracted 
by  alarms  of  other  birds,  224; 
perched  on  fishing-rod,  229 
Kingfisher,  the  Belted  (Ceryle  al- 
cyon),  general  habits  and  home 
life  of,  136-145;  dimensions  of 
subterranean  nest  of,  136;  use 
of  tarsus  of  foot  of,  136;  habits 
of  young  of,  138-145;  habit  of 
walking  backward,  how  acquired 
in  young  of ,  138 ;  use  of  tent  before 
tunnel  of,  138-139;  notes  of  adult 
and  young  of,  139,  140;  colors  in 
young  of,  140-141;  the  feeding 
habits  of  young  of,  140;  peculiar 
expression  in  young  of,  141;  de- 
velopment of  fear  in  young  of, 
144;  habits  of  young  of,  in  cap- 
tivity, 144-145;  moving  nesting 
chamber  by,  144;  structure  of 
oesophagus  and  bill  of,  145 ;  trick 
of,  145 


Leaves,  plucking  or  cutting  of, 
about  a  nest,  20,  31;  keeping 
fresh  on  branches  cut  from  trees 
of  various  kinds,  32;  result  of 
cutting  of,  at  Catbird's  nest,  128 

Lenses,  kinds  of,  available  for  pho- 
tographing wild  animals,  65-68; 
the  Anastigmat,  66;  qualities  of , 
most  needed  in  animal  photog- 
raphy, 66;  long  focus,  66-67; 
telephoto,  68 

Life,  the  most  striking  characteris- 
tic of,  195 

Locust,  Rocky  Mountain,  eaten  by 
birds  during  plague,  211 

Loeb,  Jacques,  xviii,  197 

Lucerne,  Switzerland,  habits  of  the 
Ousel  or  Blackbird  at,  178;  cap- 
ture of  snake  by  Blackbird  at, 
181 

Lures,  the  young  as,  15,  1 6;  as  a 
means  of  taming,  230 


M 


Maple  sap,  sipping  of,  by  Cedar- 
birds,  102 


Index 


251 


Matinicus  Rock,  Maine,  the  Terns 
of,  1 66 

Megapode  or  Brush  Turkey,  nest- 
ing habits  of,  146 

Methods  of  bird-photography,  the 
old,  xix;  the  new,  1-35;  analy- 
sis of  the  new,  6-16;  application 
of,  1 6-2 1 ;  precautions  to  be  ob- 
served in  use  of,  18-21;  extent 
of  application  of,  21-25;  table 
of  experiments  in,  21-25;  ob- 
jections to,  28-33;  advantages 
of,  33-35;  fascination  of,  34; 
illustrations  of,  36-55;  history 
of  development  of,  xix,  91-92; 
see  also  under  names  of  species 

Mirrors,  use  of,  71 

Mites,  parasitic,  on  young  of  Cedar- 
bird,  191 

Montagu,  Col.  G.  (Ornithological 
Dictionary  of  British  Birds),  xxi 

Morgan,  Lloyd,  xviii,  227 

Moths,  habits  and  tropisms  of, 
197 

Mouse,  Deer-  or  White-footed  (Hes- 
peromys  leucopus),  nest  of  Red- 
eyed  Vireo  occupied  by,  114 


X 


Naturalist,  duty  and  privilege  of, 
xviii;  patience  of,  30 

Nest,  of  House  Sparrow,  13;  dis- 
placement of,  in  Common  Tern, 
33;  in  House  Wren,  43;  in  Great 
Herring  Gull,  55;  photographing, 
when  inaccessible  to  tent,  68;  of 
Cedar-bird,  88-89,  93,  147;  de- 
struction of,  in  Red-eyed  Vireo, 
113;  of  same,  used  by  Deer- 
mouse,  114;  of  Red-eyed  Vireo, 
occupied  by  Yellow  Warbler,  114; 
of  Night  Hawk,  129,  134;  of 
Kingfisher,  136;  function  of,  148; 
imperfect,  148;  of  Robin,  148- 
159;  variety  and  type-form  of, 
1 48 ;  movement  of  nesting  cham- 
ber in  Kingfisher,  149;  remark- 
able example  of,  in  Chebec,  160; 
of  Great  Herring  Gull,  162;  of 
Phoebe,  165;  inspection  and  sani- 
tation of,  188-193 ;  parasites  of,  in 
Cedar- bird,  191,  192;  of  Chimney 
Swift,  207-209;  adaptation  in 


character,  and  position  of,  209; 
of  Black  Duck,  219;  of  Magnolia 
Warbler,  222;  of  Chestnut-sided 
Warbler,  236 

Nest-building,  in  the  Phoebe,  n, 
165;  in  Great  Herring  Gull,  12, 
162;  in  Alligator,  146;  in  Mega- 
pode or  Brush  Turkey,  146;  in 
Robin,  148;  proof  of  instinctive 
character  of,  158;  in  Chebec,  159; 
in  Chipping  Sparrow,  161;  phil- 
osophy of,  165;  (Sporadic  and 
diffuse  character  of  instinct  of, 
in  Great  Herring  Gull,  165;  in 
Terns,  166 

Nest-life  in  birds,  the  best  period 
for  student  of,  xxi;  the  oldest 
illustrations  of,  xxii,  177-178 

Nesting  site,  displacement  of,  in 
Chipping  Sparrow,  Redwing 
Blackbird,  and  Cedar  Waxwings, 
xix;  control  of,  2-5;  when  to 
change,  16-17  ;  the  choice  of  new, 
by  operator,  1 7 ;  accidents  due 
to  change  of,  guarded  against, 
18-20;  experiments  in  change 
of,  tabulated,  21-25;  attachment 
of  birds  to,  27;  of  Kingfisher  to, 
136;  importance  of  cleanliness 
of,  in  passerine  birds,  188;  un- 
usual, in  Chimney  Swift,  207-209 

Nestling,  rate  of,  growth  and  de- 
velopment of,  1 86;  comparison 
of  growth  of,  with  that  of  human 
infant,  188 

Nidification.     See  Nest-Building 

Night  Hawk,  Bull-bat  (Chordeiles 
virginianus) ,  behavior  of,  during 
incubation,  129;  hatching  of, 
129;  nest  life  and  habits  of,  129- 
134;  expression  of  fear  in  old 
and  young  of,  130-131;  the 
growth  of,  131-134;  call  and 
alarm  notes  of,  132,  134;  coral- 
ling  the  young  of,  132;  en- 
counter of  young  of,  with  snake, 
132;  feeding  habits  in  young  of, 
132,  134;  the  feeding  of  young 
of,  132-133;  illumination  of 
throat  of,  134;  fledgling  of,  135 

No  Man's  Island,  Maine,  Hernng 
Gulls  at,  54 

Northfield,  N.  H.,  breeding  of, 
Cedar-birds  at,  86;  nesting  of 
Kingfisher  at,  136 


252 


Index 


Objections  to  method  considered, 
28-33 

Observations,  from  tent,  the  best 
time  for,  18;  method  of  record- 
ing, 70 

Observatory,  outdoor,  for  study  of 
life  and  instinct  of  birds,  16; 
see  Tent 

Oriole,  Baltimore  (Icterus  balti- 
more),  cleaning  instinct  in,  189; 
lack  of  discrimination  in  young 
of,  220-221;  summoned  by 
alarm  of  Robin,  224 

Osprey,  the  American,  or  Fish 
Hawk  (Pandion  haliaetus  caro- 
linensis),  attachment  of,  to  nest, 
27;  reputed  intelligence  of ,  165 

Ostrich  (Struthio  camelus),  period 
of  incubation  in,  172 

Ovarian  tube,  treatment  of  eggs  by, 
167 

Owls,  change  of  feeding  habits  in, 
211 

P 

Parasites  on  nest  and  young  of 
Cedar- bird,  191,  192 

Parental  instinct,  as  key  to  problem 
of  approach  to  wild  birds,  xx; 
early  recognition  and  illustra- 
tions of,  xxi;  analysis  of,  6-16; 
definition  of ,  14;  possible  failures 
of,  29 

Parker,  John  B.,  21 

Pelican,  spreading  habit  of,  177; 
yawning  habit  of,  180 

Pheasants,  sleeping  habit  of,  113 

Phcebe,  duplication  of  nests  by,  n, 
165 

Phosphorescence,  display  of,  in 
Night  Hawk,  134 

Photography  of  birds,  develop- 
ment of  new  method  of,  xix; 
new  method  of,  described,  1-6; 
its  conditions,  2 ;  its  principles 
analyzed,  6;  mode  of  procedure 
in,  17;  precautions  in  use  of,  18- 
2 1 ;  extent  of  application  of,  21; 
experiments  in,  tabulated,  21— 
25;  objections  to,  considered,  28; 
advantages  of,  33;  illustrations 
of,  36-55;  the  tools  of,  56-71; 
of  birds  after  they  have  been 


tamed,  in  House  Wren,  41;  in 
Chestnut-sided  Warbler,  239 

Pigeons,  domestic  (Columba  livia, 
var.  domestica) ,  incubation  and 
broods  of,  13;  desertion  of 
young  by,  29;  tameability  of, 
228 

Pigeon,  English  Wood,  habit  of, 
242 

Plates,  photographic,  exposure,  de- 
terioration of,  carriage  and  care 
of,  70;  orthochromatic,  70 

Polygamy  in  Bluebirds,  116 

Popular  natural  history,  defects  of 
xvii 

Prascoces,  214 

Precautions  to  be  observed  in 
change  of  nesting  site,  18 

Precision  in  instinctive  acts  of 
young  birds,  108,  211,  212 

Preening  instinct  in  young  Vireos, 
104;  favorite  perches  for,  178 

Pugnacity,  the  instinct  of,  10,  n; 
in  Kingbirds,  49;  in  Great  Her- 
ring Gull,  55;  in  Robins,  76;  in 
Red-eyed  Vireos,  108;  in  Blue- 
bird, 12 1 ;  of  Kingfisher,  13  8;  role 
of,  in  development  of  instinct  of 
incubation,  146;  in  domestic 
fowls,  179;  in  Tropic  Bird,  179 


Quail,    Bob    White    (Colinus    vir- 
ginianus),  sleeping  habits  of,  112 


Reaction.     See  Response 

Red-eyed  Vireo.     See  Vireo 

Redstart  (Setophaga  ruticilla),  de- 
sertion of  nest  by  young  of,  216; 
attracted  by  Robin's  alarm,  224 

Redwing.     See  Blackbird 

Reflex  action,  in  spreading,  178;  in 
swallowing,  181;  definition  and 
illustrations  of,  197-198;  in 
young  of  Cedar-bird,  199 

Regurgitation  of  indigested  food  in 
Kingbirds,  52;  in  Gulls,  55,  165; 
in  Cedar- birds,  92,  100;  in 
Vireos,  106 

Reproduction,  cycle  of,  in  birds,  7, 
9 


Index 


253 


Respiration,  in  Redwing  Black- 
bird, 47 

Response,  of  throat  and  gullet  of 
nestling,  92,  198-199;  as  charac- 
teristic of  life,  195;  the  signifi- 
cance and  analysis  of,  195—196 

Robin  (Menila  migratoria) ,  history 
of,  72-85;  egg-laying  and  incu- 
bation of,  72,  155;  disposal  of 
excreta  of  young  by,  74,  190-191; 
economy  of  food  in,  74;  feeding 
young  in,  74-80;  flight  from  nest 
of,  76,  82;  instincts  of  young, 
76,  82;  pugnacity  of,  76,  179; 
notes  of,  for  arousing  young,  7  7 ; 
parental  instincts  of,  77,  79-82; 
panoramic  scenes  at  nest  of,  79- 
82 ;  food  of  nestlings  of,  83 ;  fruits 
eaten  by,  83,  84;  in  winter,  83; 
spring  arrival  of,  84;  nests  of 
second  broods  of,  85 ;  nest-build- . 
ing  of,  148-159;  building  record 
of,  156;  illustration  of  intelligence 
of,  158;  formation  of  habits  in, 
205-206;  effect  of  alarm  of,  on 
cock  at  nest,  223 


Sac,  the  yolk,  170-172;  disposition 
of  excreta  by  birds,  188-193; 
of  excreta,  1 89 ;  peculiar  actions 
in  dealing  with,  in  Robin,  191; 
in  Chestnut-sided  Warbler,  193 

Sakkara,  pictures  from  tombs  of, 
xxii,  177 

Sanitation  of  nest,  188-193 

Screens,  for  protection  of  nests, 
their  construction  and  use,  16, 
63;  photographic,  construction, 
use,  and  advantages  of,  17,  39, 
62,  in 

Shark,  swimming  instinct  in  young 
of,  20 1 

Shielding  or  spreading,  instinct  of, 
at  nest,  and  in  sun,  176-177; 
ancient  Egyptian  pictures  of, 
177;  reflex  character  of ,  178 

Shoe-bill  or  Whale-headed  Stork 
(Bal&niceps  rex),  sun-bath  of, 

J77 

Shutter,  concealment  of  observer, 
while  adjusting,  60,  62;  a  desid- 
eratum in,  68;  iris  diaphragm,  68; 


time  marks  and  rapidity  of,  68 
69 ;  focal  plane,  69 

Sim,  Robert  J.,  102 

Sleep,  habits  of,  in  birds,  112 

Snake,  rescue  of  Vireo  from,  in- 
encounter  of  young  Night  Hawk 
with,  132;  capture  of,  by  Euro- 
pean Blackbird,  181 

Sounds,  effect  of,  upon  birds,  15, 
no,  207 

Sparrow,  Chipping  (Spizella  soci- 
alis) ,  winter  lodges  and  broods  of, 
1 3 ,  1 64 ;  suppression  of  fear  in,  1 4 ; 
House  (Passer  domesticus) ,  pug- 
nacity of,  16;  nest-building  of, 
1 6 1 ;  egg-laying  and  incubation 
of,  169-170;  habits  of,  during  in- 
cubation, 179;  combat  of,  with 
cicada,  186;  song  (Melospiza 
fasciata),  attracted  by  alarm  of 
Robin,  224;  tameabillty  of,  228, 
231 

Spiders,  treatment  of,  by  House 
Wrens,  41;  eaten  by  Cedar- 
birds,  102 

Stork  (Ciconia  alba),  habits  of,  228 

Swallows  and  Martins,  desertion  of 
young  by,  in  fall,  1 1 

Swift,  Chimney  (Ch&tura  pelagica), 
significance  of  change  of  nesting 
habits  in,  207—208;  nesting  in- 
stinct in,  208;  nesting  of,  in 
barns,  209 

Tameness,  analysis  and  illustra- 
tions of,  228-235;  °f  Canada 
Jay,  232-234;  of  Canada  Goose, 
234;  of  Pine  Grosbeak,  240-242; 
of  Bohemian  Waxwing,  242;  of 
birds  in  the  Galapagos  Islands, 
242-243 

Taming  process,  conditions  of,  231; 
by  Chestnut -sided  Warblers,  236- 
240;  use  of  tent  in,  236;  illus- 
trated by  House  Wrens,  238-244 

Tarsus,  use  of,  in  Kingfisher,  136; 
in  other  birds,  177 

Temperature,  of  body,  in  birds,  7; 
physiological  zero  point  of,  in 
domestic  fowl,  170;  normal,  in 
development  of  fowl,  170 

Tent,  as  an  observatory  for  the 
study  of  the  life  and  instincts  of 
birds,  5,  15,  33;  window  of,  5,  60; 


254 


Index 


Tent — Continued. 

time  to  employ,  7 ;  time  required 
for  birds  to  become  accustomed 
to,  14-15  ;  precautions  in  use  of, 
18-19;  experiments  in  use  of, 
tabulated,  21-25;  protection  af- 
forded by,  32-33;  illustrations  in 
use  of,  36-55;  as  an  observatory 
for  birds,  37,  38;  mounted  over 
water,  44-46;  dimension  and  con- 
struction of,  56-57 ;  directions  for 
use  of.  59-62;  on  elevated  plat- 
form, 64,  in;  as  means  of  tam- 
ing birds,  236-240 

Tent-cloth,  material  and  color  of, 

56,  57,  59 

Tent-frame,  dimensions  and  con- 
structions of,  56-57 

Tent-pins,  form  and  use  of,  57 

Tent- window,  position  of,  60 

Tern,  the  Common  (Sterna  hir- 
undo),  remarkable  scene  at  nest 
of,  33-34;  nest-building  instinct 
of,  1 66 

Thorndike,  Edward,  xviii 

Throat,  inflation  of,  in  Red-eyed 
Virep,  68;  color  of,  in  young 
Robin,  74;  response  of,  in  young 
birds,  92,  198-199;  in  Chestnut- 
sided  Warbler,  175;  as  target  for 
the  parent,  199 

Thrush,  Brown  (Harporhynchus 
rufus),  camping  beside  nest  of, 
174;  brooding  of  young  in,  174- 
175;  excreta  of  young  eaten  by, 
189;  attracted  by  alarm  of 
Robin,  224;  Wilson's  or  Veery 
(T Urdus  fusee  scens) ,  premature 
development  of  fear  in  young  of, 
220 

Titlark,  English,  illustration  of 
parental  instinct  in,  xxi 

Trees,  keeping  cut  branches  of, 
fresh,  32 

Trial  movements.     See  Tropisms 

Tripod,  best  forms  of,  68 

Tropic  Bird  (Phcethon  flavirostris} , 
pugnacity  of,  during  incubation, 
179 

Tropisms,  definition  and  illustra- 
tions of,  196-197 


Venice,  "doves"  or  pigeons  of,  228 
Vireo,  Red-eyed  (Vireo  olivaceus), 


coming  to  tent,  14;  calls  and 
voracity  of  young  of,  54;  War- 
bling (Vireo  gilvus),  displace- 
ment of  nest  and  habits  of,  54; 
habits  and  home-life  of,  103- 
114;  behavior  of  young  of,  107- 
108;  preying  instinct  in  young 
of,  1 08;  food  of  young  of,  no; 
rate  of  feeding  at  nest  of,  no; 
by  deer-mouse,  114;  old  nest  of, 
utilized  by  Yellow  Warblers,  114; 
call-notes  of,  183;  disposal  of 
excreta  of  young  by,  189-190; 
habit  of  approaching  nest  in, 
206;  attracted  by  alarm  of 
Robin,  224 

W 

Walking,  instinct  of,  in  verte- 
brates, 138;  peculiar  habit  of,  in 
young  Kingfishers,  138 

Wallace,  Alfred  Russell,  165 

Warbler,  Yellow  (Dendroica  (estiva) 
appropriation  of  Red-eyed 
Vireo's  nest  by,  114;  nesting 
habits  of,  175-176;  Chestnut- 
sided  (Dendroica  pennsylvanica) , 
excreta  of  young  of,  eaten  by, 
189-190;  fate  of  rightful  young 
of,  222;  Magnolia  (Dendroica 
maculosa),  as  foster  parent  to 
Cowbird,  222-223;  attracted  by 
alarm  of  Robin,  224;  Maryland 
Yellow  Throat  (Geothlypis  tri- 
chas} ,  attracted  by  alarm  of  Rob- 
in, 224;  taming  of,  236-240; 
photographing  without  tent,  239- 
240; 

Waxwing,  Bohemian  (Ampelis  gar- 
rulus),  tameness  of,  242;  Cedar, 
see  Cedar-bird 

Whitman,  C.  O.,  xviii 

Wildness,  origin  and  nature  of,  228, 
242-243 

Woodpecker,  cleanliness  of  nests 
of,  188;  Golden  Shafted,  see 
Flicker 

Wren,  House  (Troglodytes  aedon), 
habits  and  home-life  of,  38-44; 
displacement  and  protection  of 
nest  of,  39;  dismemberment  of 
prey  by,  41 ;  opening  nest  of,  42 ; 
disposal  of  excreta  in,  43  ;  bill  of 
fare  of  young  of,  43;  Golden 


Index 


255 


Wren — Continued. 

Crested,  illustration  of  parental 
instinct  in,  xxi 


Young,  desertion  of,  by  Swallows 
and  Martins,  n;  of  birds,  as 
strong  lure,  15;  proper  age  of, 
for  change  of  nest-site  16;  ex- 
posure of,  to  intense  heat,  18; 
danger  to,  from  insufficient  food, 
20;  study  of,  at  nest,  20;  cats, 
as  enemies  of,  28-29;  by  Pigeons, 
29;  rate  of  feeding  of,  in  War- 
bling Vireo,  54;  protection  of,  63; 
food  of,  in  Goldfinch,  87;  auto- 
matic response  in  gullet  of,  92, 
198 ;  peculiar  posture  of,  in  Cedar- 
bird,  99;  feeding  habits  of,  in 
Night  Hawk,  132,  134;  walking 


backward  habit  of,  in  King- 
fishers, 136,  138;  habits  of,  in 
captive  Kingfishers,  145;  lack  of 
discrimination  in,  165,  166,  220- 
221;  development  in  the  egg,  and 
hatching  of,  170-172;  brooding 
and  feeding  of,  173-186;  rate  of 
growth  of,  186-188;  inspection 
and  cleaning  of,  188-193;  char- 
acter of  excreta  of,  189;  use  of 
excreta  of,  as  food  by  adults, 
189-193 ;  instinctive  behavior  of, 
199;  instinct  of  fear  of,  214-220; 
in  domestic  Chick,  218-219;  fear 
in  Black  Ducklings,  219;  prema- 
ture development  of  instinct  of 
fear  in,  219-220;  use  of  pot-belly 
of,  220;  acquisition  of  fear  of  spe- 
cial objects  in,  221-222;  feeding 
of,  in  Flicker,  226 
Yawning  in  birds  180 


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