I'.lliDS- NKSTS. r.7 



treeless reixiniis, and l>v birds who sid>stitiite Btriiii:;s, 

 cotti)!!, or rairs for their usual uestini; materials. 



77///''/, condition of the youni^ at birth, wln-ther 

 feathered or naked. The younii; of what are termed 

 *■ j)rieeoeial '' birds are hatidiel with a covering of 

 downy feathers. Gulls, Dueks, Snipe, Chickens, J*ar- 

 tridges, and Quails are familiar members of this grouj). 

 Their young can run about soon after birth, and a well- 

 fornied nest is not needed. But the young of " altricial " 

 birds are hatched practically naked and are reared in the 

 nest, which is therefore not only a receptacle for the eggs 

 during incubation, but a home. Thrushes, Sparrows, in 

 fact all Perching Birds, "Woodpeckers, Hummingbirds, 

 and many others belong in this group of altricial birds. 



Fourth^ temperament, whether solitary or social. 

 Hawks, fierce and gloomy, nest alone, while the cheery, 

 happy Swallows nest in colonies. 



Fifths structure of tlie bird. The tools — that is, the 

 bills and feet — of some birds are more serviceable than 

 those of others. AVe should not expect a Dove to build 

 the woven nest of an Oriole, nor a Hummingbird to 

 fashion a Woodpecker's dwelling. 



Sidh, feeding habit. In some few cases feeding 

 habit may determine the character of the nest. For 

 instance. Woodpeckers, in semiring their food from trees, 

 often make large excavations, which it is (piite natural 

 they should have learned to use as nests. 



Sevi'iifJi, inherited habit, or instinct. There seems no 

 reason to doubt that birds iidierit their knowledge of nest- 

 building, for in several cases where birds have been taken 

 fi-om the nest and reared alone, they have afterward 

 constructed a nest resembling that of their species. It 

 would therefore ai)pear that inherited habit is a fact. 

 Through it we may explain not only the similarity in the 

 nests of the sime species, but also certain habits for 



