Aves. 105 



birds that prefer walking or running and seldom fly unless fright- 

 ened ? Is there any special adaptation of the feet in birds that 

 spend most of the time on the ground ? Compare the size and 

 strength of the legs in birds that live on the ground with those of 

 ordinary perching birds. 



Food. What does the bird eat? How does it discover this 

 food ? How does it secure it ? Does it eat much or little ? Has 

 it any special time, or times, of day (or night) for feeding? Give 

 particulars of the manner of feeding. Does it store food, or simply 

 get what is needed for the present? If stored, how and where? 

 Name any special adaptations for obtaining special kinds of food. 

 How do birds drink? 



Sociability. Do birds live singly, in pairs, or in flocks ? Do 

 any birds that live in pairs during the breeding season ever flock 

 at other seasons? Does the kind of bird you are studying mingle 

 freely with other birds, or does it keep aloof ? If they " meet by 

 chance," are they shy? Do they quarrel? Are they inclined to 

 be " quarrelsome "? Does one kind try to drive another away? 

 Does the larger always defeat the smaller? 



Nesting. Does a bird habitually build in the same kind of 

 place? Is the place selected with reference to enemies? To 

 shelter? Do any prefer to rebuild in the same place? Of what 

 material, or materials, is the nest made? How is this material 

 obtained? How is it carried? How is it "handled" during the 

 building? Do both sexes share in the nest building? Is the size 

 of the nest, as seen from the outside, in keeping with the size 

 of the bird? Is the space inside in proportion to the body? How 

 many eggs are laid? Are they arranged in any definite way? 

 Their color? Size? Shape? Is the shell thick or thin? How 

 long from the time of beginning to "sit" till the young hatch out? 

 Does the male ever " sit " ? Does the male ever bring food to 

 the female while she is "sitting"? What proportion of the eggs 

 hatch ? Do birds ever lay eggs in the nests of other birds ? If so, 

 do they lay them in nests of the same kind of bird? Are the 



