134) ADOPTION. 



approached so near me in the way described that I could 

 readily have killed her with my foot. The male acts in a 

 similar manner as the female, but his actions do not 

 indicate the same admixture of timidity and courage, in- 

 asmuch as he never comes so near as she does. When, 

 however, the fowler proceeds on his way, the male bird 

 follows for a long distance, running and flying in the 

 while from spot to spot, Avith the endeavour to lure the 

 man from its young family, which it does not rejoin until 

 the enemy is so far distant that no further peril is to 

 be apprehended." 



M. "Wilhelm von Wright testifies to the like eflPect : " In 

 few birds is the parental feeling so strong as in the Dal- 

 Kipa. If one approaches the poults, the old birds run 

 with depressed wings and outspread tail so close to one's 

 legs that they may readily be killed with a stick; but 

 when they imagine the chicks have had time to conceal 

 themselves, they gradually retire, though still with the 

 intention of enticing one from the spot where their progeny 

 is harboured. So long, however, as their young are in 

 jeopardy they never take wing, and thus place their own 

 lives in the greatest possible danger. In common with 

 other birds, the parents show greater regard for their 

 offspring whilst small than at any other period, for as the 

 young increase in age the parental affection sensibly 

 diminishes. During the summer the family keep to- 

 gether, both male and female evincing equal attachment 

 to their progeny." 



M. Bartli mentions a trait regarding the Dal-Ei^ja 

 which is not devoid of interest : — " As the young of 

 these birds whilst of a tender age are often exposed to 

 losing their parents, nature, in order to prevent them 

 from perishing, has implanted a reciprocal instinct of 

 preservation between the several families, the parents 

 of which take charge of the motherless poults that seek 



