216 Wild Birds 



As an illustration of the development of fear in the altricial 

 kinds, one might select any of the common passerine birds, 

 Thrushes, Warblers, Finches, or Flycatchers, but we should 

 bear in mind that the development of this instinct is not always 

 uniformly timed, even in the same species. We will choose the 

 Catbird, the Chestnut-sided Warbler, and the Kingfisher. 



When I first camped beside a Catbird's nest (No. 6 of table, 

 Chapter I.) in June, the young, who were then about a week 

 old, were incapable of fear. They would shift about the nest 

 to get into the shade, pant, and erect their growing head- 

 feathers. When a breeze rocked the cradle, or a Redwing 

 Blackbird sang his conquer-ee, or the parent came with meat or 

 fruit, they stretched necks, opened mouths, each struggling to 

 get some advantage over the other, and uttered their sharp tsit! 

 tsit! notes. You could handle them at will; they were abso- 

 lutely fearless. If such a nest is overturned they will cling to it 

 but never cower or crouch. 



As we have seen, the clipping of a leaf at this nest two days 

 later sent them off in a panic, and all hurried to the nearest 

 cover. Should you succeed in catching them under such cir- 

 cumstances, which is doubtful, and try to replace them in the 

 nest, they will pop out repeatedly as if mounted on springs, and 

 if you try to hold them in the hand they will struggle, squeal, and 

 fairly shriek in their endeavors to escape. They are now covered 

 with a coat of slate-colored feathers, but fly with difficulty. 

 When placed on open ground, they hop off at once toward the 

 nearest bush. No greater change in the behavior of a wild 

 bird is ever witnessed than that which the sense of fear brings 

 to pass. 



I have seen a young Chestnut-sided Warbler jump out of its 

 nest, when unable to stand erect and much less to use its wings. 

 In this case the pin-feathers of the wings had barely burst, and 

 the body was nearly naked. When the bird was returned to its 

 nest, it refused to remain until the operation was many times 

 repeated and it was finally overcome by fatigue. I have known 

 the young of the Redstart to leave the nest remarkably early, 

 but the case just recorded appears to be somewhat exceptional. 



