How to Study Birds 95
hook-and-eye, rubber bicycle bands. From the point of the umbrella outside run guys of strong string to pegs in the ground, or any convenient object, and the blind is in position
Prof. F H. Herrick employs a small tent in his bird studies It is described in his excellent ‘Home-Life of Wild Birds' (G. P Putnam's Sons), and possibly may be better than the structure just mentioned. I have found the latter, however. a most satisfactory affair and quite large enough for an observer with his camera,
How long after the completion of the nest is the first egg laid? If a migratory species, how long is this after the bird was first
11/» z i _ _ Wazt :2 observed? Will stormy or cold weather lengthen the period me_ of laying? When is the set completed? How many eggs
does it contain? If the egg should chance to be destroyed will the bird lay again? If a Cowbird's egg is laid in the nest is any attempt made to eject it, or to avoid hatching it by building a second nest on the first ? What are the enemies of birds‘ eggs ? Note
the color of the eggs in relation to the character of the Incubation nest? When does incubation begin? How long does it
The Egg:
continue? Is it performed by one or both species? Is there any regularity in the daily periods of sitting and of feeding ? Does one sex ever feed the other while on the nest? \Vill the sitting bird bird permit a near approach? \Nhen returning to the nest, does it come
directly or with much caution? What is the condition of The Young the young at birth (naked? feathered? blind? etc.)? Do
all the eggs of a set hatch at about the same time? How soon after hatching is the young bird fed? What is the nature of its food? Does the food change as the young bird grows older? Is it like that of the parent? Is it prepared in any way? How often are the young fed.> How are they fed? How is the nest kept in a sanitary condition? How long after hatching do the young remain in the nest? If born blind. when do the eyes open? \Vhen do they first recognize the calls of the parent? Do they instinctively obey them? or in any way respond to them? When does the young bird first exhibit fear by attempting to escape or to defend itself? What are the calls of the young? How long after it leaves the nest is it dependent on its parents ? Ate its first attempts at flight successful, or does it learn to fly? How is the young defended by rhe parents?
In a subsequent paper we may study the life of the young bird sys- tematicallyr The preceding questions are designed to suggest lines of research to the student, who is advised to consult Lloyd Morgan‘s ‘ Habit and Instinct ’ for information on the general subject, and F. H. Herrick's ‘ Home Life of Wild Birds' for definite observations of this nature,
(TO BE CONTINUED)
