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Wild Birds 



natural size. She made the most comical picture, however, when 

 on a hot day she stood or sat over the young, with every feather 

 erect, as if striving to keep them cool and to be comfortable 

 herself meanwhile. 



The female Kingbird broods constantly when the heat is 



severe, and at 

 the approach of 

 the male will of- 

 ten assist in dis- 

 patching unruly 

 insects and in 

 seeing them 

 safely down a re- 

 sponsive throat. 

 The persistence 

 of the Redwing 

 Starling in this 

 line of conduct 

 is admirable. I 

 have seen one of 

 these birds stand 

 with drooping 

 wings, erect 

 feathers, and 

 mouth agape, in 

 the strong heat 

 of a July day for 

 hours though 



not continuously, for she invariably left at the approach of her 

 mate for a few moments' respite, and then usually returned 

 with food. 



This spreading over the young, often with erect feathers, has 

 been witnessed in Blackbirds, Flycatchers, Warblers, and Cedar- 

 birds (see Figs. 10, 34, 108), but, so far as I am aware, it had 

 never been described until the former publication of this work. 

 So common a practice must, however, have been often observed, 

 yet I was somewhat surprised to find that it had been noticed 



Fig. 107. The same brooding bird, with feathers partially 

 erect and the throat inflated. 



