PAUENTAL AFFECTION. 133 



the state of the weather and the locality. It is said, 

 indeed, that incubation takes place some fourteen days 

 later in the fjall regions than in the lower grounds. 

 " The young are able to fly within seven to eight days 

 of their leaving the shell, at which time they are about 

 the size of larks," and so soon as they have acquired 

 their first feathers they bear a considerable resemblance 

 to their parents. 



" Whilst the female is sitting," says M. Gronlund, " the 

 male always remains in the near vicinity of the nest, to 

 protect her against the attacks of foxes, weasels, and the 

 numerous birds of prey by which she is then often 

 molested. He never separates from her, even after the 

 young are hatched, but accompanies the family every- 

 where, and evinces the same regard for the mother as 

 for the poults. When meeting a family of Dal-Ripa in 

 the forest, one has the opportunity of witnessing the 

 instinct implanted by nature in the parents to protect 

 their offspring. Should a person then approach the spot 

 where they are collected, the male, for the purpose of 

 drawing the enemy's attention from them to himself, runs 

 forward to meet him with plaintive cries and outstretched 

 wings, thereby endangering himself to secure the safety 

 of those he holds dearer than even life itself." 



Again : " When the fowler comes suddenly upon a 

 brood of young Dal-Ripa," M. Barth relates, " it is 

 really distressing to see the mother running to and fro 

 before him. Should he remain stationary her boldness 

 gradually increases, until at length either from a feeling 

 of her own weakness, or from her fears being dis- 

 pelled at seeing him make no attempt to injure her 

 she by degrees retires with the same pitiable mien, 

 and ultimately hides herself behind a bush, waiting for 

 the moment when she may once more venture to call 

 her chicks together. Oft-times lias a female Dal-Ripa 



