Further Observations on Young Birds. 8 



J 



in the young of wild and tame birds. The wild and 

 tame duck brought up together, and with other birds, 

 showed no distinguishable difference in this respect. 

 Dr. Eae, however, a careful observer, says,* " If the eggs 

 of a wild duck are placed with those of a tame one under 

 a hen to be hatched, the ducklings from the former, on 

 the very day they leave the egg, wiU immediately en- 

 deavour to hide themselves, or take to the water, if there 

 is any water, should any person approach, whilst the 

 young from the tame duck's eggs will show little or no 

 alarm, indicating in both cases a clear instance of instinct 

 or ' inherited memory.' " My own observations, so far as 

 they go, do not corroborate this statement. I have 

 mentioned with what impudent familiarity the wild duck 

 treated my fox-terrier, and must repeat that I have 

 observed but little difference in instinctive timidity between 

 the young of wild and domesticated birds. Mr. Charles A. 

 Allen says f of the young of the black duck {Anas obscura), 

 which he observed under natural conditions, " They 

 showed no fear, and would cuddle under one's hand very 

 confidingly." 



The little birds soon get thoroughly accustomed to their 

 surroundings, and are then shy of any new and strange 

 object placed among them. My jays were wont to bathe 

 in a shallow tin ; but when I introduced a white basin into 

 the cage, they were much scared, jumping and fluttering 

 to and fro, and uttering their harsh note. The first time 

 I placed the shallow tin in a room where there was a mixed 

 brood— wild duck, tame duck, chick, guinea-fowl, and 

 pheasant— the three latter were curiously afraid, standing 

 and looking at it with outstretched necks, and uttering 



* Nature, July 19, 1883. Quoted in "Mental Evolution in Animals," 



p. 196. 



t " The Nesting of the Black Duck on Plum Island " : The Auh. vol. x. 



(1893), p. 57. 



