I02 



Herrick, Care of Nest and Young: 



Cleanliness is an imperative instinct with such birds as the 

 Kingfishers and Bank Swallows, whose nests are placed in the 

 ground, while Barn and Eave Swallows, House Sparrows, and 

 Pigeons represent a considerable number of other species 

 which secure protection by placing their nests in remote, high, 

 or inaccessible places. While their nests may be clean, the 

 ground beneath them usually is not. 



It is plainly advantageous for birds which breed on or near 

 the ground to remove every particle of litter which would stain or 

 whiten the leaves and surrounding foliage, and thus advertise the 

 secret of their nest to enemies, even to those who prowl after 

 dusk. When a Red-eyed Vireo, whose behavior I studied at 

 close range, dropped any bit of excrement by accident, she darted 

 after it with such speed that it was snatched up before reaching 

 the ground, or before falling a distance of four feet. Not a trace 

 of defilement is ever seen around the dwellings of any of these 

 birds. 



On the other hand, predaceous species like Hawks pay no 

 attention to such matters. The excrement of their young is 

 voided in a semi-fluid state and in a peculiar manner. With tail 

 turned to the edge of the nest the bird shoots it off to a distance 

 of two or three feet, and it may strike the ground six or seven 

 feet from the nesting tree. The only significance which such 

 actions have is that of keeping the nest clean. The advertise- 

 ment of the nest stains on the leaves below is a matter of indif- 

 ference to these bold and persistent outlaws, who have little to 

 fear from any enemy save men. 



Owls, who breed in holes in trees, are reported to have filthy 

 nests, especially where the cavity has been in use for several 

 successive years, but this seems to be due to the remains of their 

 quarry and to the accumulation of rejected food-pellets rather 

 than to the presence of excrement. 



The haunts of certain sea fowl are often reeking with filth 

 during the breeding season, and the guano beds of the South 

 American coast mark the places of assembly and probably of the 

 breeding of myriads of sea fowl for long periods of time. How- 

 ever, the birds themselves and their nests are generally clean, and 

 any other condition in the case of most birds would soon become 

 intolerable. 



