EXAMINATION OF THE STOMACH. 95 



however, some unmistakable signs of immaturity, even after a 

 bird has become full-feathered, that persist for at least one 

 season. These are, in the first place, a peculiar soft fluffy 

 "feel" of the plumage — the feathers lack a certain smooth- 

 ness, density and stiffening which they subsequently acquire. 

 Secondly, the bill and feet are softer than those of the adults ; 

 the corners of the mouth are puffy and flabby, the edges and 

 point of the bill are dull, and the scales, etc., of the legs are 

 not sharply cut. Thirdly, the flesh itself is tender, and pale 

 colored. These are some of the points common to all birds, 

 and are independent of the special markings that belong to the 

 youth of particular species. Some birds are actually larger for 

 a while after leaving the nest, than in after years when the 

 frame seems to shrink somewhat in acquiring the compactness 

 of senility. On the other hand, the various members, espe- 

 cially the bill and feet, are proportionally smaller at first. 

 Newly growing quills are usually recognized on sight, the 

 barrel being dark colored and full of liquid, while the vanes 

 are incomplete. In stiKl^ing, for example, the shape of a wing 

 or tail, there is always reason to suspect that the natural pro- 

 portions are not yet presented, unless the quill is dr}^, colorless 

 and emptj^ or only occupied with shrunken white pith. 



§48. Examination of the stomach frequently leads to inter- 

 esting observations, and is always worth while. In the first 

 place, we learn most unquestionably the nature of the -bird's 

 food, which is a highly important item in its natural history. 

 Secondly, we often secure valuable specimens in other depart- 

 ments of zoology, particularly entomology. Birds consume 

 incalculable numbers of insects, the harder kinds of which 

 such as beetles, are not seldom found intact in their stomachs ; 

 and a due percentage of these represent rare and curious spe- 

 cies. The gizzards of birds of prey, in particular, should 

 always be inspected, in search of the small mammals, etc., 

 they devour ; and even if the creatures are unfit for preserva- 

 tion, we at least learn of their occurrence, perhaps unknown 

 before in a particular region. Mollusk-feeding and fish-eating 



