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THE OOLOGIST 



Tfie Qoto^ist 



FOURTH PUBLICATION YEAR. 



FEBRUARY, 1879. 



SUBJECTS OOLOGIOALLY OONSIDEEED. 



ATTACHMENT DISPLAYED BY 

 BIRDS EOE THEIR EGGS. 



CONCLUDED FROM JANUARY NUMBER. 



Being first in the order of occurrence, 

 we will first look at the conduct of the pur- 

 eiits in their endeavors to protect their eggs. 

 As a rule, the smaller birds which are un- 

 able to protect tlieir homes by open attack 

 upon the collector -invader, use various 

 stratagems to entice him from the vicinity 

 beibre he has discovered the nest, but this 

 class of birds do not always demean them- 

 selves in the same manner ; hence, we may 

 presumably separate their actions into two 

 divisions, in accordance with the circum- 

 stances. In the first division, we see that 

 upon the approach of certain enemies, es- 

 pecially natural foes, the maximum extent 

 of the parents' courage is called forth for 

 actual resistance, whether the nest has been 

 discovered or not. A snake is anticipated 

 in its approach, and whether or no it has 

 as yet seen the little home and its precious 

 contents, the ferocity of the defenders usu- 

 ally knows no bounds, for they assail the 

 unwelcome visitor with great energy. We 

 have noted this circumstance on a number 

 of different occasions, the invader being a 

 bird of prey, and the imiformity of demean- 

 or has impressed us as being almost a rule 

 in this respect. Now in the second class of 



actions, we recognize the method which 

 these same species make use of to attract 

 the attention of man under the same circum- 

 stances. This is the better known of either 

 class of actions, for we are almost exclu- 

 sively brought into contact with these ex- 

 hibitions. Instead of appearing as if ready 

 to repel the trespasser, the little owners im- 

 mediately feign intense suffering, as if from 

 a broken wing or other bodily injury. The 

 same species are thus seen to adapt their de- 

 meanor to the circumstances. Instinctive- 

 ly they know their natural enemies are al- 

 most certain to discover their nest ; while 

 it seems as if they were equally cognizant 

 that man is easily deluded and readily per- 

 suaded. There certainly is evident some- 

 thing of natural and logical discrimination, 

 if it may so be termed. The habit referred 

 to — the eff'ort to draw away the intruder — 

 is too well known to require further consid- 

 eration. 



As already stated, some birds are natu- 

 rally too cowardly or lack sufficient affec- 

 tion to either " stand their ground," or to 

 use any method of allurement to protect their 

 nest and eggs. That this is so, and not 

 traceable to habits typical of the species or 

 family, is amply proven by the fact that 

 birds — the Sandpiper, Maryland Yellow- 

 throat and Grass Finch for example-known 

 to exhibit the characteristic attempt of 

 throwing the collector off" his guard, have 

 occasionally been known to sit close by with- 

 out the slightest movement or utterance up- 

 on his approach. And this is an by no 

 means insignificant fact with which the ool- 

 ogist has to contend ; for when a certain 

 class of birds demean themselves in this 

 manner, one is tempted to believe, and is 

 almost convinced, that there is really no nest 

 in the vicinity. But such cases are seldom 

 met with. 



Briefly then, we may state that there is 

 one class of birds that universally attack 

 the intruder, not only when at the nest, but 

 even when in its locality. Another will ha- 

 bitually glide from the nest and sit quietly 

 by from the first glimpse of a trespasser to 

 his departure, displaying by no movement 



