230 A HISTORY OF BIRDS 



Consequently the nursery of this bird, by the time the young 

 are ready to leave, has become indescribably filthy. 



While those birds whose young are active from birth escape 

 for the most part the labour of carrying food, they, on the other 

 hand, are called upon to meet grave anxieties in the protection 

 of their offspring from enemies. 



The singular habit which such birds have of luring away 

 enemies by feigning madness will occur to the memory of many 

 who read these pages, and concerning this comment will be 

 found elsewhere (p. 245). For the moment we refer more 

 particularly to the methods adopted by the anxious parents to 

 remove the chicks from the nesting area when threatened by 

 danger such as cannot be averted by the device of feigning 

 wounded, or of transportation when the nesting site is high 

 above ground and must be quitted before the young are able 

 to fly. 



That the Woodcock will transport its young from place to 

 place is well known, though the precise method by which they 

 are carried is still a matter for debate. According to the older 

 naturalists she was supposed to carry them, one at a time, by 

 the aid of her beak, the precious burden being pressed against 

 the breast thereby. Later observers have shown that this is 

 not the correct interpretation of what takes place. Some are 

 confident that the chick is grasped by the toes of the parent and 

 carried as in a basket attached to a parachute, or better, a flying 

 machine ; but yet other observers contend that the little one is 

 pressed between the thighs of the parent, and further guarded 

 against a fall by means of the beak, which is placed underneath, 

 and this is perhaps the correct interpretation. 



Similarly the Dabchick, when suddenly alarmed on the nest 

 with her young ones (p. 232), has been seen to take to the water, 

 the chicks following. Unable to keep up with her, she stopped, 

 and one going to one side of her and one to the other, she 

 raised her wings, under which they crept, when, pressing these 

 shields lightly down, she bore them off in safety. 



The dangers which beset the young of nidifugous birds are, 

 however, by no means confined to attacks from enemies. Thus 

 the Mallard or Wild-duck {Anas boschas) on occasion will nest 

 high up in a tree, and in consequence, within an hour or two 

 of hatching, the young must be brought to the ground, since 



