;'>s LIFE-HISTORIES OF BIRDS 



times. If so, the case in point, s-jems t;> he a reversion to 

 a long lost habit. 



Why this species alone should seek shelter and protection 

 tor its young in the hollows of trees, when all its family re- 

 latives build open and comparatively exposed domiciles, is 

 hard to explain. We should naturally expect to witness a 

 family resemblance, however slight, in its structure. Its 

 quarrelsome disposition must necessarily gain for it many 

 enemies, and in exposed situations, the sins of the parents 

 would doubtless be visited upon the heads of the unoffend- 

 ing children. To insure the hitter's protection against the 

 provoked assaults of enemies, the parents have doubtless 

 hit upon the happy expedient of hiding them away in the 

 hollows of trees. 



We have often wondered \vhv white feathers, for such is 

 the fact, should be selected for nesting purposes, in prefer- 

 ence to others. May it not be that the white color of the 

 feathers, combined with the characteristic hue of the inner bark 

 of trees and decayed wood which oonstitute such important 

 elements of composition, so beautifully harmonizes with the 

 ground-color of the eggs and their brown markings, as to 

 be protective in their tendency? Example after example 

 might be cited to prove the harmony which exists be- 

 tween the colors and markings of eggs, and the colors of the 

 materials which enter into the compositions of certain nests. 

 The only rational conclusion that can be drawn from such 

 facts, is that the different materials are selected by birds 

 with the ultimate view of harmonizing with the characteristic 

 colors, tintings, and markings of their eggs. Admission 

 of this fact would seem to imply that birds are connoisseurs 

 of colors. In the generality of cases, we believe that the se- 

 lection oi materials of suitable colors, is purely instinctive 

 in its character. But at the same time we cannot help 

 thinking that the ability to discriminate colors, exists with 

 many, if not all, species. If bees possess this capa- 

 city, which Sir John Lubbock assures us to be the fact, we 



