64 U. S. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 211 



Young. — The young at the time of hatching, according to G. B. 

 Saunders (MS., see p. 56) have a smooth orange-red skin; the bill and 

 nails are flesh color; and the natal down is pearl gray. The down is 

 longest on the capital and spinal tracts and shorter on the humeral 

 and femoral tracts. When the down is dry it fluffs out and appears 

 quite abundant, particularly on the spinal tract. On the head the 

 down is localized chiefly above the eyes and on the occiput. The dark 

 sheaths of juvenal feathers are visible on tne dorsal surface of the head 

 and on the spinal and dorsal regions, and less easily discernible in the 

 humeral, alar, femoral, and crural tracts. 



Shortly after hatching, the nestling reacts to the food call of the 

 female and holds up its mouth in a wobbly and uncertain manner, at 

 the same time uttering weak notes, see see or seep seep. The female 

 during the first few days spends long hours in the nest brooding the 

 nearly naked young. The young are fed by both the male and female 

 but the male feeds them much less often. During the first 2 days the 

 young evacuate in the nest, being too weak and lacking the instinct to 

 void their droppings outside the doorway. Later, by the third or 

 fourth day, each youngster may be observed to turn about and expel 

 the mucous-covered sac beyond the rim of the nest. These sacs are 

 removed by the adults but in the early stages of the development of 

 the young they may be eaten. Egg shells are removed to a consider- 

 able distance by the female immediately after the young are hatched. 

 Infertile eggs are usually left in the nest during the entire period of 

 occupation. 



By the third or fourth day a slitlike opening appears in the eyelids, 

 so that the youngster can see whenever it is fed or disturbed. At 

 other times the eyes remained closed. The position of the young birds 

 is now more upright and alert, and the wings have grown enough to be 

 useful as props for maintaining balance. The legs are still almost 

 useless; there is little muscular coordination and they are well sprawled 

 out at the sides. 



By the fifth day the eyes are fully opened and the voice is stronger. 

 The nestlings now face the opening of the nest, expectantly waiting for 

 food. Growth is rapid, and the juvenile plumage is rapidly acquired. 

 When disturbed, the young now exhibit signs of fear. Wing exercises 

 and stretching of the legs and neck are indulged in frequently. 



By the eighth d&j the young are very alert and receptive to sounds 

 coming from outside the nest. They may be seen frequently preening 

 their feathers, apparently to facilitate the unsheathing process. Dur- 

 ing the remaining days in the nest the young become so active the 

 nest is wrecked and the roof worn away, exposing the nestlings to view 

 and to the hot, direct rays of the sun. When thus exposed to the sun 



