How to Study Birds 95 



hook-and-eye, rubber bicycle bands. From the point of the umbrella 

 •outside run guys of strong string to pegs in the ground, or any convenient 

 ■object, and the blind is in position. 



Prof. F. H. Herrick employs a small tent in his bird studies. It is 

 described in his excellent ' Home-Life of Wild Birds ' (G. P. Putnam's 

 Sons), and possibly may be better than the structure just mentioned. I 

 have found the latter, however, a most satisfactory affair and quite large 

 •enough for an observer with his camera. 



How long after the completion of the nest is the first egg laid ? If 



„-, a migratory species, how long is this after the bird was first 



py hat %v € 



-. observed ? Will stormy or cold weather lengthen the period 



of laying ? When is the set completed ? How many eggs 



does it contain ? If the egg should chance to be destroyed 



*■ will the bird lay again? If a Cowbird's egg is laid in the 



nest is any attempt made to eject it, or to avoid hatching it by building 



a second nest on the first ? What are the enemies of birds' eggs ? Note 



the color of the eggs in relation to the character of the 

 Incubation nest ? When does incubation begin ? How long does it 



continue ? Is it performed by one or both species ? Is 

 there any regularity in the daily periods of sitting and of feeding ? Does 

 ■one sex ever feed the other while on the nest ? Will the sitting bird 

 ibird permit a near approach ? When returning to the nest, does it come 



directly or with much caution ? What is the condition of 

 The Young the young at birth (naked? feathered? blind ? etc.)? Do 



all the eggs of a set hatch at about the same time ? How 

 soon after hatching is the young bird fed ? What is the nature of its 

 ■food ? Does the food change as the young bird grows older ? Is it like 

 that of the parent ? Is it prepared in any way ? How often are the 

 young fed ? How are they fed ? How is the nest kept in a sanitary 

 condition ? How long after hatching do the young remain in the nest ? 

 If born blind, when do the eyes open ? When do they first recognize 

 the calls of the parent ? Do they instinctively obey them ? or in any 

 way respond to them ? When does the young bird first exhibit fear by 

 attempting to escape or to defend itself ? What are the calls of the 

 young ? How long after it leaves the nest is it dependent on its parents ? 

 Are its first attempts at flight successful, or does it learn to fly ? How 

 is the young defended by the parents ? 



In a subsequent paper we may study the life of the young bird sys- 

 tematically. The preceding questions are designed to suggest lines of 

 research to the student, who is advised to consult Lloyd Morgan's ' Habit 

 and Instinct ' for information on the general subject, and F. H. Herrick's 

 ' Home Life of Wild Birds ' for definite observations of this nature. 



(to be continued) 



