112 



Wild Birds 



slept on the nest. At from fifteen to twenty minutes after 

 sundown she was regularly at her post, and even at this hour 

 usually fast asleep. So profound, indeed, were her slumbers, 

 that I could often enclose her in my hand and stroke her feathers 

 without awaking her. She slept with her head twisted back 

 and buried deep in the feathers between the shoulders. An 

 apparently headless trunk or a little ball of feathers was all that 

 could be seen, and the only motion discernible came from the 

 regular pulsations of breathing. 



In this manner the mother apparently passed the night, 

 unless disturbed. When aroused by a ruder movement of the 

 hand, she would peck feebly at a raised finger, but if not molested 

 the eyes would gradually close, and the heavy head turning 

 slowly on its axis settle down on the soft cushion again. If 

 actually driven off she would return in a second, and in another 

 moment would be fast asleep. 



On a quiet evening, just after sundown, the camera was set 

 on the platform, and two photographs were made of this sleep- 

 ing bird without awaking her. In the first the plate was ex- 

 posed for five and in the second for twenty minutes (Fig. 66), 

 both yielding good prints, allowing for the regular movements 

 of respiration. 



The sleeping habits of birds do not appear to have received 

 much attention, and are often difficult to observe. That they 

 vary not only in different species but with the season and other 

 conditions is obvious. When not breeding, many of the smaller 

 perching birds seek the dense coverts or foliage, which afford 

 protection from cold as well as from enemies. Grouse .are 

 sometimes found enclosed in light snow; Quail hover in dense 

 covies on the ground, where they pass the night; birds of prey, 

 like Hawks and Eagles, sleep at odd intervals by day or night, 

 with the head buried in the feathers of the back. The diurnal 

 sleep of Owls and Goatsuckers is more readily observed. The 

 male Robin has been known to pass the night at a long distance 

 from its nest. In a community of Great Herring Gulls, which 

 knows no repose by day or night, the old birds take frequent 

 naps at all hours, and either while on the perch or the nest. 



