CHAPTER II 

 BIRDS 



48. Study of a bird. — (Optional home work.) 



So far as possible the following study should be made from a robin, 

 sparrow, chicken, or other living bird, and the observations should 

 be supplemented by an examination of stuffed specimens, charts, 

 or pictures. 



A. Regions. 



In all animals that have internal bony skeletons as do birds, at 

 least two of the following regions may be distinguished; 

 namely, a head, a neck, a trunk, and a tail. 

 Which of the four regions named above can you dis- 

 tinguish in the bird that you are studying? 



B. Head. 



1. Describe the general shape of the beak (or bill), stating 



whether it is relatively long and slender, or short and 

 thick. State, also, whether the tip of the beak is straight 

 or curved. 



2. On what part of the head are the eyes located ? 



In the eyes of a bird the following parts are visible : a central 

 pupil, and around this a colored region known as the 

 iris. State the location and describe the color of 

 each of these parts in the eye of the bird that you are 

 studying. 



3. In front of the eyes find two openings, the nostrils. Locate 



the nostrils with reference to the beak and the eyes. 



4. Make a drawing twice natural size of a side view of the head 



to show the beak, eye, and nostril. Label each part 

 shown. 



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