172 FRANCIS H. HERRICK 



quent intervals through the day, and with a sort of rolling 

 cadence, the degree of emphasis evinced corresponding to their 

 hunger and excitement at the moment. This cry is thoroughly 

 characteristic, and serves to advertise the nest to the country- 

 side, and to every enemy capable of associating the cries of young 

 birds with good living. On one occasion, in the course of three 

 hours walking I found six nests of this oriole by the aid of the 

 calling young alone; so upon the basis of any theory like that 

 propounded by Wallace, we should have to ask, why should 

 nature at one moment be so careful of the mother in order that 

 she may shield and cherish her young, and at the next suddenly 

 betray these young to their enemies ? 



To avoid tedious repetition, we shall at once try to analyze 

 this protection which all birds receive in varying measure, when 

 reproducing their kind and through the main channels or factors 

 as given in table i, namely, through specialized instincts (i), 

 through their volition or intelligence (ii), and lastly through 

 bodily structure (iii), as in external form, color, weapons, and 

 the like, in more or less direct relation to every power possessed. 

 Our attention for the present, however, is directed mainly to 

 the instincts. The known facts could be expressed in other 

 ways, and drawn out to far greater length, but this rough analysis 

 will answer if it serves to illustrate the complexity of the problem 

 of protection and the cardinal role played by instinct. In all 

 such activities instinct comes first, and whatever its ultimate 

 bounds may prove to be, intelligence is certainly subordinate. 



It seems to be obvious that protection through concealment 

 of the nest may be rendered equally effective in many ways, 

 as well by dense foliage, as by remote or inhospitable surround- 

 ings, as well by adapting a natural cavity as by drilling an arti- 

 ficial one, by a temporary covering of leaves, as by a con- 

 structed permanent shield, which serves to modify the weather, 

 if it sometimes fails to bar the monkey, the squirrel or the snake. 

 It is equally clear that special instincts, whether of pugnacity 

 or of any artifice which successfully foils an enemy, may be of 

 far greater service to the offspring than any thing peculiar to 

 the nest itself. To illustrate protection of this character, we 

 will let the behavior of a common American bird suffice , — the 

 bobolink, and if any one still believes that the structure of the 

 nest is the prime factor in securing the protection of its con- 



