30 Palmer, Instinctive Stillness in Birds. [jan 



numerous cases birds when alarmed will fly into trees or bushes 

 and either pass rapidly to the opposite side and thus escape, or 

 imitate the leaves by remaining quiet. 



Many more instances of absence of motion at a critical moment 

 might be given, but almost everyone with a wide and diversified 

 experience with birds has had many opportunities of becoming 

 interested in these phases of their life. That the bird does not 

 reason is shown by the fact that it may stiffen into its mimicking 

 position of immobility even when its attitude is incongruously out 

 of place with its surroundings. However, the facts should be 

 studied, not in single instances, but by observing the general habits 

 and the natural economy of the species in its usual environment 

 and in its attitude against its usual enemies. On the whole these 

 occasional motionless postures are distinctly of advantage to the 

 species and thoroughly ingrained into their life, and if at times 

 seemingly fantastic and absurd to us, are really very effective 

 when used against the ordinary and entirely natural causes which 

 influence them. Man with his ideas, practices and weapons is but 

 an artificial product and has had no part in shaping these peculiar 

 habits of bird-life. 



When ground birds are approached after a sudden flight they 

 may get up wild, run off rapidly, or remain quiet and are then often 

 extremely difficult to find. Color in woodland has an uncertain 

 and slight value usually because lights and shadows are often 

 extremely complex and broken; while the accidental and complex 

 variation of size and shape of the details of the ground cover is 

 very effective in favor of the hiding, or setting, bird. 



Many birds will not eat unless their food is in motion. A motion- 

 less insect has little or no attraction whereas movement at once 

 tempts the appetite. Simulation of life by using a wire and a 

 dead mouse will sometimes induce a captive snake to eat. I have 

 seen a mother bird lamenting the dangerous position of its off- 

 spring cease in her grief because a tempting morsel by its motion 

 attracted attention. Motion attracts the enemy, stillness does not, 

 unless some other feature, as some defect, or unusual condition 

 of the environment, or view, places the mimic in jeopardy. 



It was often an object with me to try to ascertain how close I 

 could get to a bird in the open. I tried many ways and at last 



