DEVELOPEMENT. 
75 
use. The wing-feathers which, with the domestic Fowl, 
only require a partial developement, begin to grow from 
the first day, and soon reach a sufficient size to enable the 
little creature to flap them with nearly the same facility as 
its mother. In the interim, breast, belly and back become 
fully fledged, though the first feathers only serve for a 
short period; for these, the wing-feathers included, are 
renewed more than once, before the birds have reached 
their full size; and it is not until autumn that the 
whole plumage may be said to be complete. While the 
young bird of prey still squats helplessly in the nest, the 
brood of Chicks have long since dispensed with the 
tutelary lessons of the old Hen, and become quite inde¬ 
pendent. It seems as though Dame Nature-taking pity 
on the young of most Gallinaceous birds, so early left by 
their parents to shift for themselves—comes to their 
assistance, and takes most of their cares upon herself 
from their very first entrance into the world. 
The young of the various Coursers, Plovers and other 
shore birds become developed with similar rapidity. 
Like those of the domestic Fowl, they emerge from the 
shell clothed with parti-coloured down, and, leaving the 
nest the moment they are hatched, seek their food 
under the tutelage of the parent birds. They are most 
effectually hidden from their enemies by the resemblance 
the colouring of their dress bears to that of the ground; 
the art of secreting themselves they understand to a 
nicety, so that, having left the nest, they can fearlessly 
face the dangers of their future existence. 
The young of most aquatic birds are similarly favoured, 
and some even possess gifts in their youth which are lost 
on reaching maturity. They run infinitely better than 
their parents, and dive—an accomplishment which the 
