BIRDS OF NEW YORK STATE 133 



b Brood spot 



In order to bring the eggs in direct contact with the body the 

 middle of the breast does not bear feathers and is covered by the 

 overlapping of those on each side. When the bird settles upon 

 her eggs, these feathers are spread and the bare skin of this area 

 which, during the nesting season is richly supplied with blood 

 and is called a "brood spot," is brought in direct contact with 

 the eggs. 



Killdeer Nu Ke2 



c Sex performing 



When the sexes are alike in color, both ordinarily take turns 

 in incubation but when the male is brighter, most of the duties 

 fall to the female, the male either feeding her while she incubates 

 or standing guard by the nest while she hunts her own food. 

 There are a few exceptions to this, the male rose-breasted gros- 

 beak, for example, being quite assiduous in his assistance at 

 incubation. 



d Care of eggs 



(1) Turning 



The eggs are regularly turned by the old bird and occasionally 

 moistened. 



Florida gallinule Nu GcF3 



(2) Defending 



As incubation progresses the instinct to defend the nest 

 increases until when the eggs are about to hatch, some individ- 

 uals seem not to know fear and refuse to leave the nest even 

 when touched or they may even attack the aggressor. 



