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Bird - Lore 



The male sang much, but seldom fed his young. Whenever he did 

 descend with food he was inclined to linger at the nest, and block the 

 path of his more active mate, who was eager to brood. With querulous 

 notes the impatient female would then peck and pull at his neck -feathers, 

 until he seemed to take the hint, and move away! 



On the day following there was a steady downpour of rain until mid- 

 afternoon, but, to our surprise, the brooding was frequently interrupted. 

 Once we noticed that, as the male approached with an insect, the female 



FEMALE RED -EYED VIREO INSERTING FOOD INTO THE THROAT OF 

 A YOUNG BIRD 



began to twitter and shake her wings. Thus, division of labor sometimes 

 reaches this stage; the little hen broods, while the cock purveys the food. 

 At other times when the male announced his presence, the female would 

 utter a rolling chirp, and with vibrating wings retire before her mate, who 

 performed the routine duties of feeding, but seldom entered the nest. 

 Again she would give chase with drooping and quivering wings, as if to 

 take the insect from him, but in this she did not succeed. Such actions 

 are commonly witnessed, during the period of sexual activity, in many birds> 

 and their meaning is not far to seek. The noisy celebration of the Fourth 



