XXy. BIRDS 



The following questions may be worked out during a visit to a zoological 

 park or during a field trip.^ 



Pick out some particular bird for your study and take notes upon the fol- 

 lowing series of questions. Do not expect to be able to answer all the ques- 

 tions which follow. 



Protection. — Does the bird rest or nest in trees, bushes, or grass? In 

 general, what are the colors of the bird? Do they harmonize with the sur- 

 roundings when the bird is at rest ? Look especially for birds on the nest. 

 Often such birds will remain quiet, allowing the observer almost to touch 



them before they attempt to fly away. In 

 some cases the light, glinting through the 

 trees, gives a mottled or banded appearance 

 to the leaves, somewhat resembling the same 

 kind of markings on a bird. 



Flight. — Watch a bird in flight. Try 

 to determine the exact changes in the posi- 

 tion of the wings that take place. The tip 

 of the wing usually describes a curve which 

 results in the forming of the figure go . Notice 

 that the rate of movement of the wing dif- 

 fers greatly in different birds. Birds with 

 long, thin wings, as the hawks and gulls, 

 move the wing in flight with much less ra- 

 pidity than those with short, wide wings, as 

 the grouse or quail. The latter birds start 

 with much less apparent effort than the birds 

 with longer wings; they are, however, less 

 capable of sustained flight. 



The wing of a bird is slightly concave on 

 the lower surface when outstretched. Thus 

 on the downward stroke of the wing more 

 resistance is offered to the air. 



Under the covering of feathers the parts 

 of the wing may be made out This may 

 easily be done from a fowl at home, or dead 

 sparrows may be used in the laboratory. 

 Find and identify the parts corresponding 

 to the human arm, forearm, and hand. The 

 last division of the wing is homologous to our 



Feathers of a meadow lark. Which 

 of the above are used for flight ? 

 Why ? From photograph loaned 

 by the American Museum of 

 Natural History. 



^ Bird activities may best be studied out of 

 doors. Any city park offers more or less oppor- 

 tunity for such study, for several of our native 

 birds make the parks their home. If not these, 

 then the English sparrow can be found anywhere 

 in the East. The best time for making observa- 

 tions is early in the morning, especially in the 

 Spring season. 



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