ii8 



Wild Birds. 



Fig. 113. Eggs and young of altricial Cedar-bird, 

 thirty-six liours old — blind and naked. 



Young about 



Fig. 114. Bird on left shows instinctive response to sound or 

 vibratory movement, and the use of wings for support. 



Fig. 115. Bird to the left in reptilian crouching attitude ; at the 

 right, as in Fig. 113, the characteristic response of the new-born 

 bird is seen, and the use of the pot-belly as a foot. About ^ life-size. 



came with meat or fruit they 

 -Stretched necks, openeci mouths, 

 each strugghng to get some advant- 

 age over the other, and uttered their 

 sharp tsit ! tsit ! notes. You could 

 handle them at will ; they were ab- 

 solutely fearless. If such a nest is 

 overturned they will cling to it but 

 will never cower or crouch. 



As we have seen, the clipping of 

 a leaf at this nest two days later sent 

 them off in a panic, and all hurried 

 to the nearest cover. Should you 

 succeed in catching them under such 

 circumstances, which is doubtful, and 

 try to replace them in the nest, they 

 will pop out repeatedly as if mounted 

 on springs, and if you try to hold 

 them in the hand they will struggle, 

 squeal and fairly shriek in their en- 

 deavors to escape. They are now 

 covered with a coat of slate-colored 

 feathers, but fly with difficulty. 

 When placed on open ground they 

 hop off at once toward the nearest 

 bush. No greater change in the 

 behavior of a wild bird is ever wit- 

 nessed than that which the sense of 

 fear brings to pass. 



I have seen a young Chestnut- 

 sided Warbler jump out of its nest, 

 when unable to stand erect and 

 much less to use its wings. In this 

 case the pin-feathers of the wings 

 had barely burst, and the bod}- was 

 nearly naked. When the bird was 

 returned to its nest, it refused to re- 

 main until the operation was many 

 times repeated and it was finally 

 overcome by fatigue. I have known 

 the young of the Redstart to Iea\'C 

 the nest remarkably early, but the 

 case just recorded appears to be 

 somewhat exceptional. 



The instinct of fear comes with 



