. Birds of America;. Birds -- North America. ORDUSE 19 less. Often the nest is sheltered under lo{,', stump, or tree, sometimes near the den of the fox, often near that of the skunk; hut these prowlers seem to find it only if they fall upon it by accident, thus starting the bird, or if they see her enter or leave it. When the fox blunders on her retreat she bristles u]) and flies directly at his head. This startles him but does not divert him and his mouth is soon full of scrambled eggs. The little ones with their pipings and flutter- ings would not long be safe in their lowly nest and so they
. Birds of America;. Birds -- North America. ORDUSE 19 less. Often the nest is sheltered under lo{,', stump, or tree, sometimes near the den of the fox, often near that of the skunk; hut these prowlers seem to find it only if they fall upon it by accident, thus starting the bird, or if they see her enter or leave it. When the fox blunders on her retreat she bristles u]) and flies directly at his head. This startles him but does not divert him and his mouth is soon full of scrambled eggs. The little ones with their pipings and flutter- ings would not long be safe in their lowly nest and so they leave it as soon as the natal down is dry and thenceforth become wanderers on the face of the earth. They do not stray far from or jumping and lluttering up to the overhanging foliage in search of their elusive prey, while the mother follows, watchful for any enemy that may be ui)on the trail. In about a week from the time they leave the egg the chicks can use their wings and within three weeks, though still no larger than very small chickens, they have learned to fly considerable distances and to rise quite high in air. As their feathers grow they learn first to sleep on the ground in a circle about the mother and next to roost in shrubs and trees. As the sum- mer wanes the growing birds make dusting places in dry spots along wood roads or southerly hill-. l'Ujtui;;l'ii uy H. K. Job Cuurtcsy uf Uuting Publishing Co. RUPFED GROUSE ON NEST the neighborhood, but patter about day by day, and gather under the mother's wings wherever night overtakes them. She is ready to defend them with her life, if need be, or to entice away any enemy by crying and fluttering in the path like a wounded bird. This ruse often is success- ful with a boy or a dog, but does not deceive Reynard, who quietly retires, lies down to await the mother's return, and, when the chicks rise from their concealment at her call, springs among the frightened brood and marks one for his own. In feeding, the litt
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1920, bookidbirdsofameri, bookyear1923
