THE FEEDING OF NESTLING BIRDS 197 



was quickly swallowed. The young then released its hold and 

 the parent stood with the muscles of the neck twitching and 

 jerking." (8, p. 6-4). 



While the process is quite similar in the Albatrosses and 

 Herons, one point of difference will be noted, viz., that in the 

 former the beak of the nestling is placed crosswise between the 

 adult mandibles, while in the latter the parent's bill is placed 

 between the mandibles of the young. 



In the Flamingo, belonging to the Odontoglossae, the feeding 

 process may be referred to the same general plan, but with 

 slight modification. The bill of the Flamingo is of such size 

 and peculiar shape that the usual methods are not at all per- 

 missible. Neither bill is inserted in the other; nor would it 

 be possible for the young to grasp the bill of the adult. So 

 we find, in the words of Chapman (2, p. 187) that " What in 

 effect is regurgitated clam broth, is taken drop by drop from 

 the tip of the parent's bill." The food is really dropped from 

 one bill to the other in a very dexterous fashion. 



From the recent description by Gabrielson of the feeding 

 process in the Rose-breasted Grosbeak, it might seem that there 

 is in the Passercs a feeding process apparently belonging in this 

 category (9). It would hardly be likely that this case could be 

 related to those here described, but it is probably an adaptation 

 of independent origin. 



The third method of feeding which we will take into account 

 consists of thrusting the food into the mouth or throat of the 

 nestling by the parent bird. It appears to be the common 

 method in the higher orders of birds, viz., the Coccyges, the 

 Pici, the Macrochircs, and the Passeres. 



Perhaps the best analysis of this process has been given by 

 Herrick (10) concerning the Black-billed Cuckoo. Food, which 

 usually consists of insects, is placed by the parent well into the 

 mouth or throat of the nestling. This act is a stimulus to the 

 nervous mechanism of the young, and the response is a purely 

 reflex act which sets in motion the pharyngeal muscles, thus 

 accomplishing the deglutition of the food. The reflex act of 

 swallowing is an automatic consequence of the contact stimulus 

 on the throat or mouth. " This complex performance ' says 

 Herrick, " which represents the simplest sign language of the 

 hungry bird, appears as a uniform chain-reflex, and is as pre- 



