HOW SOME BABY BIRDS ARE FED. 133 
Even among birds which feed their young in the 
usual way there are doubtless many interesting habits 
that would repay study. Thus, swifts and swallows 
bundle insects under their tongues (literally as a sweet 
morsel), and after the young leave the nest they are 
fed upon the wing. By some sign the parent indi- 
cates her readiness, whereupon both fly directly up- 
ward till they meet, when the morsel is delivered. 
Robins bunch great masses of earthworms in their 
beaks, while others, as our bluebirds, carry them singly. 
In the case of this bird it has been noticed that if 
the male find the mother within delivering her mor- 
sel, he often awaits till she comes out and delivers his 
to her, much as if he thought she understood this 
baby-feeding business much the better, and she takes 
it into the nest. 
Closely connected with this topic is the care gen- 
erally that bird parents exercise for their young. 
During the time of their weakness there is usually no 
more devoted mother than she in feathers. With the 
exception of the female ostrich, noted by Job, this 
prevails even among the lowest birds; and except 
among cowbirds and cuckoos in the higher groups, 
there is no farming out the baby and carrying a lap- 
dog. Man by selective action has suppressed the 
motherly instincts in some chickens. But the birds 
with respect to this have no reason to blush in the 
presence of “our best society.” 
Fhe care for her chicks by the common hen isa type 
of the motherly care of all the fowl forms; and there 
are no more devoted mothers than the ducks, though 
