THE BIRDS 



409 



Mating- habits among birds are quite interesting. Some, such as the 

 prairie chickens, have an elaborate courtship in which the males strut 

 and display themselves, stamp their feet, and give out loud booming calls 

 to attract the females to them. They may keep this up for six weeks 

 before the females condescend to notice them. Many birds remain to- 

 gether after copulation and share in the building of the nest, the incuba- 

 tion of the eggs, and the care of the young. Some choose mates and 

 remain together for life. 



Photos by Winchester 



Fig. 27.3. Bird nests. A remarkable illustration of the power of instinct is brought 

 out in the building of bird nests. Each species of bird gathers similar materials and 

 constructs the nest in a size and shape that is characteristic of the species. These nests 

 are : upper left, yellow warbler ; upper right, bottlebird : lower left, orchard oriole ; and 



lower right, Arkansas goldfinch. 



The building of the nest illustrates one of the most remarkable in- 

 stincts in the entire animal kingdom. Each species of bird has its own 

 type of nest. Now, consider a young female preparing to lay her eggs 

 for the first time. She has never seen a nest built ; she saw one after it 

 was built, but she was quite young at the time. Yet, she is able to select 

 the proper materials and put them together in the manner characteristic 

 of the species. It may be made of sticks, twigs, or grass ; it may be 

 shaped as a simple cup, or it may be completely inclosed to form a house ; 

 it may be built on the ground, in a tree, or against a sheer cliff ; yet she 

 selects the proper materials, builds it the proper way, and in the proper 



