Care of Young and Nest. 



101 



earthworms (at least in the Robin) and possibly slugs. Aside from the habits of the adult 

 the nature of the food brought depends much upon the character of the supply. When the 

 Kingfisher finds crayfish abundant they are carried to the nest, and this species has also 

 been known to go to the fields for insects. Along the coast various other invertebrates un- 

 doubtedly contribute to the food supply of both young and adult birds of many species. 

 Birds which never taste of fruit themselves naturally do not give it to their young, while 

 Robins, Orioles, Vireos, and Waxwings, to mention but a few of the berry-pickers, vary 

 the diet of their fledglings with a liberal supply of fruits of various kinds. 



Fig. 94. Female Kingbird assisting a grampus down the 

 throat of a nestling. The long gray wings of this insect are 

 still protruding from the mouth. 



Fig. 95. Male grampus, Corydalus cornutus : full size, 

 from life. 



The food is placed not simply in the mouth of the young but well down into the 

 sensitive throat, and if the bird does not immediately respond, it is withdrawn and passed 

 to another, and often to a third, until a throat is found which has the proper reaction 

 time. If the gullet is already full, the swallowing power is inhibited, and the bird must 

 wait. If the experiment of feeding a young bird like a Robin at the nest is tried, it will 

 be found that the food passes slowly down the oesophagus, and when this is filled no 

 more can be taken until the channel is clear. The gullet thus acts as a brake to the 

 tendency of the greedy young bird to gorge itself to suffocation. According to Audu- 



