THE BIRD STUDY BOOK 



made a similar trip about once in twelve minutes. 

 He could have done better had he not spent so much 

 time flying aimlessly about and scolding imaginary 

 enemies. 



Some birds have what seem to be very curious 

 habits at the nesting time. The jealous-hearted 

 Hornbill of the Old World never trusts his spouse to 

 wander away from the nest after her duties there 

 once begin. In order that he may always know just 

 where she is he quite willingly undertakes to supply 

 her with all her food during the days while the incu- 

 bation of the eggs is going forward. With mud he 

 daubs up the entrance to the hollow in the tree where 

 she is sitting, leaving only a small opening through 

 which food may be passed. When the mud has 

 dried it becomes very hard and the patient mate is 

 an absolute prisoner until the day comes when she 

 passes the word to her lord that the eggs have 

 hatched, and he sets her free. 



In our own western country there dwells a bird 

 known as the Phalarope, the females of which enjoy 

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