Development and Care of the Young 179 



devour the prey, are only additional illustrations of the force 

 of habit. (See Chapter XIII., n.) 



While possessed by the incubation or brooding spirit many 

 birds, as is well known, are indifferent to danger and will hug 

 their eggs at any cost. In this respect few can excel the "tame 

 villagic fowl," who displays greater docility than most wild 

 birds, lor they rarely sit on an empty nest, and have been known 

 to reject strange eggs. The hen will peck vigorously at the in- 



Fig. no. Great Herring Gull yawning, while engaged in the prosaic task of 

 incubation. 



truder, and if hustled off the nest will soon return. Some birds, 

 like Song Sparrows and Brown Thrushes, will remain immovable 

 as if hiding until you come dangerously near, when they glide 

 off silently, but usually remain quiet for a moment only. The 

 Robin flies off in a passion. The Tropic Bird fights but sticks 

 to her egg. The Woodpeckers are close sitters and may be 

 taken in the hand, as we shall see later. A Chickadee which I 

 worried with a straw would peck angrily at it, but remained on 

 the nest. The Cedar-birds retire in silence. In this state birds 

 become passive merely through the temporary suppression of 

 the sense of fear. 



