Life and Instinct 



211 



by nearly every bird in the region, and to have served as a staple 

 for most of the species. Birds of prey such as the smaller Hawks 

 and Owls devoured them eagerly. The food habits of most birds 

 are exceedingly plastic and liable to sudden change under the 

 spur of necessity. 



The simplest acquired powers, which are the fruits of ex- 



Fig. 129. Male Kingbird seeing a cicada safely down a hungry throat. 



perience, are the marks of intelligence also. As a result of trial, 

 error, or success, the animal soon learns to do certain things; 

 it develops a memory, and forms habits. 



The young and inexperienced chick, at birth or shortly after, 

 will peck indiscriminately at all sorts of objects, as the nestling 

 bird responds to sounds of every kind; but it soon learns to 



