Ill 



Bird -Lore 



close, and the heav}^ head turning slowly on its axis settle down on the soft 

 cushion again. If actually driven ofif she would return in a second, and 

 in another moment would be fast asleep. 



On a quiet evening, just after sundown, the camera was mounted on a 

 suitable platform, and two photographs were made of this sleeping bird 

 without awaking her. In the first the plate was exposed for five and in 

 the second for twenty minutes, t>oth yielding good prints, allowing for the 

 regular movements of respiration. 



The sleeping habits of birds do not appear to have received much at- 

 tention, and are often difficult to observe.' That they vary not only in differ- 

 ent species, but with the season and other conditions is obvious. When 

 not breeding, many of the smaller perching birds seek the dense coverts or 

 foliage, which afford protection from cold as well as from enemies. Grouse 

 are sometimes found enclosed in light snow ; Quail huddle in dense covies 

 on the ground, where they pass the night; birds of prey, like Hawks and 

 Eagles, sleep at odd intervals by day or night, with the head buried in 

 the feathers of the back. The diurnal sleep of Owls and Goatsuckers is 

 more readily observed. The male Robin has been known to pass the night 

 at a long distance from its nest. In a community of the great Herring 

 Gull, which knows no repose by day or night, the old birds take frequent 

 naps at all hours, and either while on the perch or the nest. This Gull 

 will occasionally doze with head drawn in and eyes closed, but usually 

 conceals its head in its feathers like a Hawk or Vireo. But, if at the such 

 times, the Gull is dull of sight, its hearing is keen, for at an alarm it will 

 suddenly throw up its head and with outstretched neck scream loud enough 

 to be heard for half a mile. Some of the Pheasants sleep with the head 

 either drawn in on shortened neck, or turned back and concealed. So far 

 as I have observed, the same bird always turns its head to the same side in 

 sleep, and this seems to follow as a matter of course from the force of 

 habit. 



When we analyze the tameness of such a bird as the Vireo just de- 

 scribed, we must recognize two elements which enter into the problem 

 in varying degrees, — the sum of its daily experiences and the strength of 

 its instincts, — both of which are subject to constant variation. In this in- 

 stance the strength of the brooding and other parental instincts undoubt- 

 edly tended to allay the temporary sense of fear and to increase the 

 apparent tameness observed. One cannot help feeling that such profound 

 sleep could not conduce, in the long run, to great length of life in either 

 parent or offspring. 



This nest was not disturbed beyond removing some obstructing leaves, 

 and was not watched beyond the tenth day, when the wing-quills were 

 growing apace. We were glad to learn, however, that the brood was safely 

 reared, and we hope it made a good passage southward in the fall. 



