Kr,eela);d.] 320 [IS;ovcmber20, 



(lull, the iiost is fully exposed. Dr. Kneeland brought the 

 birds of our own country under a hasty review, and attempted 

 to show that we should tind the same remarkable provision 

 for the protection of the mother bird and her young. 



The diurnal birds of prey, as eagles, vultures, and hawks, make their 

 nests in inaccessible places, and beside being rarely of Ijriglit colour, 

 arc well armed for the del'ence of their young. 



The nocturnal birds of prey, less well armed, less wild in their habits, 

 and less able to fight any enemies in the day time, and also more con- 

 spicuous, build their nests in hollow trees or underground or. amid 

 thick foliage. 



The Cn/)ri77iulf/idce, or goatsuckers, make no nest, laying their eggs on 

 the ground; both sexes are alike, of sombre and inconspicuous colors; 

 the eggs and young find their jirotection in their color resembling that 

 of the ground. 



In the swallows, both sexes are nearly alike; they are protected by 

 nests in hidden or inaccessible places. 



Among our birds, in which the females are bright or conspicuous, 

 and which accordingly conceal their nests, or make them of a color to 

 deceive or of a form or depth to hide the sitting birds, are : the king- 

 fisher, woodpeckers, Carolina parrot, Baltimore oriole, hunmiing birds, 

 magpie, purple grackle; azure, autumnal, and black and yellow warblers; 

 song and tbx-colored sparrows; Savannah finch, towhee bunting, 

 black-capped and chestnut-crowned titmice ; meadow lark ; black and 

 white creeper; red-bellied and white-breasted nuthatch; golden 

 ci-owned thrush; Zenaida dove; wild turkey; quail; Canada, pinnated, 

 and willow grouse, and summer duck. 



Among our birds in which both sexes are dull, and a concealed nest 

 is unnecessary for the protection of the young, are the families of 

 thrushes and vireos, and the passenger pigeon. Among those, in 

 which the male is bright, but the female dull, are the yellow-breasted 

 and many other warblers, the gold-finch; the blue, rose-breasted, and 

 cardinal grosbeak ; the scarlet tanager, redstart, orchard oriole, bobo- 

 link, painted finch, indigo bird, red-winged blackbird, kinglnrd, blue- 

 grey and other flycatchers, the ruffed grouse, etc. 



The blue and Florida jays, in whicli the females are nearlj- as 

 bright as the males, form an apparent exception in making an ojea 

 nest; but the bold and watchful habits of these birds, their size and 

 strength, their neighborhood to houses, and their congregation in com- 

 panies, would render any further protection unnecessary. Other ex- 

 ceptional examples, which more extended inquiry would doubtless 

 furnish, could probably be explained by the peculiar habits of the 

 species. 



