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Birds & Nature Magazine 



Bird Portraits 



A Study in Character as Shown by Heads and Necks of Birds 

 By G. WILLIAM BEEBE 



THE head of a bird is indeed a won- 

 derful object, when we consider its 

 comparatively small size and realize 

 that it contains the brain, as well 

 as being the seat of the five senses. It also 



Portrait of a King Vulture 



Shoeing the bare head, the open nostril and the 

 powerful beak and ja^. He has no head plum- 

 age to be soiled in his scavenger 'work, the 

 brightly colored ^wattles taking its place. 



supports that important organ, the beak, 

 which takes the place of hands and tools in 

 the life of its owner. 



Of expression, with the exception of 

 that caused by raising its feathers, the bird 

 has little. Fear, however, which must 

 needs be expressed all too often in the life 

 of a bird, is made apparent by the dilating 

 eyes and the open, panting beak. The only 

 exception which comes to mind is the 

 crowned crane, the suffusing of whose bare, 

 white cheeks indicates the changing emo- 

 tions. 



The eyes of most birds are placed at the 

 sides of the head, in such a position that 

 the bird cannot bring both to bear simul- 

 taneously upon the same object, but is com- 



pelled to turn its head and look sideways. 

 Afe birds spend so much of their time in the 

 air, or in trees, where danger may threaten 

 ffom all sides, above or below, this arrange- 

 nient is most useful to them, giving them 

 command of almost their whole surround- 

 irigs, whereas, without turning the head, we 

 can only see ahead of us. In much the 

 Sclme relative position, the two ears are 

 placed, and the absence of a directive outer 

 ear renders the bird susceptible to sounds 

 coming from every direction. 



Owls, for very obvious reasons, are in- 

 teresting exceptions to the above statements. 



Portrait of a Well Bred Rooster 



Sho'wing an extreme de-velopment of the 

 comb and ^wattles. 



Living most of their active life at night, 

 playing always the role of pursuers, these 

 birds have few enemies to fear. Their sub- 

 sistence depends upon the keenness of their 

 senses when focussed in one direction — 

 downward. When its strong, soft-feathered 



