PLUMAGE 



alarm by a partridge will send its brood instantly to 

 cover ; and they will remain as still as stones until 

 she tells them the coast is clear. When a hen catches 

 a worm she emits certain sounds, which, in our 

 language, could be interpreted " come quick, I have 

 food for you." Instantly the chicks eagerly flock 

 round her. Bird language is a most interesting 

 study. Space forbids enlarging upon it here. 



FLIGHT 



The young of the great majority of birds, on 

 leaving the nest, can only make short, clumsy flights ; 

 and it is at this time large numbers fall a ready prey to 

 enemies. The young swallow, on the contrary, on first 

 leaving the nest has full mastery of the air. The nest 

 is used as a roosting place, as a rule, until the young 

 birds are quite capable of taking care of themselves. 

 The young of the wandering albatross remains in 

 the nest for a year, and only vacates it when the parent 

 birds require the nest again. It has, even then, to 

 be actually forced to vacate its baby home to go forth 

 into the wide world alone. 



PLUMAGE 



The young of altricial birds are naked at birth 

 except for slight traces of filmy down on the back. 

 The feathers soon begin to grow, and when the young 



Z33 



