CONSIDERATION OF BRITISH BIRDS 109 



of females and young would be useless, because 

 at night it would be invisible to enemies. 



Birds of Song. See Table III. 



In these birds, female protection is accom- 

 plished by means of the attracting songs of 

 the males. The young are protected by the 

 parents rendering themselves conspicuous in 

 other ways ; among these birds, the best 

 examples of sacrificing and combative instincts 

 and attracting motions and sounds, for the 

 protection of young, are to be found. 



Other Birds. See Table IV. 



The absence of conspicuous colouring in 

 these birds cannot in all cases be explained. 

 In the Divers, protection of young is not 

 necessary, as these birds have always a re- 

 treat at their feet the water. Others are in 

 reality birds of song, although not so placed, 

 i.e. the Curlew, the Whimbrel, Redshank, 

 Common Sandpiper, Greenshank, the Doves, 

 and the Wryneck. Some inhabit thick under- 

 growths, where conspicuous colours would 

 not tell Corncrake, Water-rail, and Hedge 

 Sparrow. 



In the Partridge, the young are protected 

 by attracting movements of the parents, which 

 in this bird are remarkable ; but there seems 

 to be no provision for the protection of the 



