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Herrick, Care of Nest and Voting. 



CARE OF NEST AND YOUNG. 



BY FRANCIS H. HERRICK. 



The sanitary condition of the nest is a matter of great concern 

 to birds, wlio, as a class, are probably tlie cleanest of animals. 

 This is especially true of all who breed in holes like Woodpeckers 

 and Chickadees, the young of which are piled up in close quarters 

 and often more than one layer deep. The Woodpecker's hole 

 and the Bluebird's nest are always sweet and clean, and the nest- 

 lings immaculate. The parent bird not only ceaselessly carries 

 food to the young, but is often seen hurriedly leaving the nest 

 with a small white package in bill, an action full of significance 

 to every member of the family. 



The excrement of the nestlings of Woodpeckers and Passerine 

 birds is surrounded by a transparent sac of mucous, which is 

 probably secreted at the lower end of the alimentary canal, and 

 of such consistency as to allow of its being picked up without 

 soiling bill or fingers, a condition which undoubtedly occurs to 

 some extent in other orders of birds. The Bluebird carries these 

 packages several rods from the nest, and presumably drops them. 

 Many other birds probably dispose of them in this way, but it is 

 not commonly known that others, among which I can now certify 

 the Robin, Cedar Waxwing, and Red-eyed Vireo, devour the 

 whole or a part of the excrement at the nest. 



The Robin has undoubtedly been seen by many in the char- 

 acteristic pose shown in one of the photographs standing 

 on the brim of the nest, and usually with head inclined, as if dot- 

 ing on her young and thinking what fine children they are, when 

 this attitude is really one of sanitary inspection. Shortly after 

 feeding, the nestling becomes very uneasy, raises itself to its full 

 height or tries to do so, and when possible drops the excrement 

 over the edge of the nest. The old bird follows every movement, 

 snaps up the excrement the moment it leaves the body, and either 

 swallows it immediately or carries it away. When seen flying 

 from the nest with head slightly depressed and beak outstretched 



