The Audubon Societies 191 



to this novel campaign. Reference has aheady been made to the Robin nest- 

 census taken by pupils of the public schools of Worcester, Massachusetts, 

 under the direction of Dr. C. F. Hodge. Bird-clubs and both Senior and 

 Junior Audubon Societies can hardly do better than to follow these suggestive 

 methods of practical work. — A. H. W. 



JUNIOR AUDUBON WORK 



For Teachers and Pupils 



Exercise XXVII. Correlated Studies: School Gardening, Reading 



and Spelling 



Feathers, Part III 



In exercises XXIV and XXV, we took up the structure of feathers in as 

 simple a way as possible, and also the different kinds of feathers. A review of 

 the points there given will be helpful before going on with the subject matter of 

 this exercise, namely molt and coloration with particular reference to the sexes. 



Although the feathers of an adult bird in their perfection may appear to be 

 immaculate and indestructible, we must remember that the strain and constant 

 usage to which they are subjected in flight and the varied activities of the bird 

 result in wear and tear quite similar to that of any clothing. The problem of 

 renewing feathers is a more difficult one than that of renewing clothes, however, 

 since a bird cannot well spare its plumage to be made over, or even spare it 

 long enough to change to a new plumage. At all times, the bird must be pro- 

 tected from heat, cold, and moisture, so that the renewal of its feathers must be 

 accomplished in such a way as not to seriously interfere with its life-activities. 

 This is effected by a process known as molt (sometimes spelled moult), which 

 means changing the feathers. The peculiarity of molt which distinguishes it 

 from an ordinary exchange is that it takes place at certain periods, when old 

 feathers are shed as new ones grow. A bird is never naked, except in some 

 instances at birth, when it may be nearly so. 



In order to follow clearly the different molts which birds undergo, let us 

 begin with nestlings. In general, nestling birds are divided into two groups, 

 according as they are naked or nearly so, or protected by a covering of down- 

 feathers at birth. The words used to describe these two conditions look harder 

 to spell and pronounce than they really are. Try writing on a blank sheet of 

 paper the following table. Once learned, it will be a constant help to you in 

 the study of birds. 

 -^ ,. J Altricial, naked or nearly so at birth. 



( Praecocial, covered more or less thickly with down at birth. 



Note. — Altricial birds are sometimes referred to as nidicolous, which means dwelling 

 in the nest, and praecocial, as nidifugous, which means fleeing from the nest. 



