YOUNG BIRDS IN THE NURSERY 91 



Callous as such desertion may seem judged by human 

 standards, it is yet justified by expediency. To go means 

 death to the last brood, but secures the probability of 

 more broods next year, and for many years ; to stay means 

 death to all, and thereby the safety of the species is 

 imperilled — a point of far more importance than the well- 

 being of the individual, according to Nature's rulings. 



This seemingly harsh side of Nature, which might profit- 

 ably be studied by many modern would-be social reformers, 

 is well illustrated again in the case of the golden eagle. 

 As a rule, with this species, when three eggs form the 

 clutch the third is addled. Should three chicks be hatched, 

 however, the third is commonly smaller than its nest- 

 feUows, and apparently less vigorous. As a consequence, 

 the two large birds are ready to fly some days before the 

 " runt," which is thenceforth either deserted, or fed after 

 so perfunctory a fashion, that death from neglect and 

 starvation soon results. 



This seemingly unnatural conduct is again the best 

 course, not for the individual, but for the race. If the 

 parents devoted, say another week or ten days, to the 

 nurture of the backward and constitutionally weak bird, 

 the two strong birds would suffer materially, and might 

 well be lost ; for having now acquired the power of flight, 

 they might, in the absence of the parents, wander away 

 and starve, being unable as yet to capture prey. Thus 

 two vigorous birds would be sacrificed for the sake of 

 a weakling which in a very short space of time would 

 inevitably perish. 



Death by violence in the form of sudden cold, rain, 

 floods, and drought add yet other factors in piling up the 

 death-rate of nestling birds. No birds suffer more from 

 the extremes of wet and drought than the flamingo, which 



