136 A GUIDE FOR THE STUDY OF ANIMALS 



Summary. 



1. Make a list of the important adaptations of the 

 pigeon, {a) to flight, {b) to feeding, (c) to perching, and 

 (^) to protection. 



2. Which is the most highly specialized, the fish, frog, 

 snake, or bird ? Give reasons for your answers. 



3. In what various ways are feathers of use to the bird .' 



Suggested drawings. 



a. Side view of the head. 



b. A foot. 



c. A wing. 



d. Side view of the pigeon. 



Supplementary Studies of the Pigeon 



These topics and questions should be answered from 

 experience with pigeons and observations of their habits 

 and behavior, and from books to be obtained from the 

 school and public libraries. 



1. The homing instinct of the common blue pigeon and 

 of carrier pigeons. 



2. Nesting habits, number of broods and number of 

 young in each brood, feeding the young. Why is this 

 method of feeding the yo\ing necessary .' 



3. Varieties or breeds of pigeons. How the various 

 varieties were produced ; how they are kept true ; rever- 

 sions of type. 



4. Darwin's experiments with the pigeons; object of 

 the experiment. Whitman's experiments. 



The Ezoskeleton of the Bird : Plumage 

 Materials. 



Living birds, as perhaps pigeons, or mounted or stuffed 

 skins, separate feathers, portions of feathers, microscopes. 



