. The home life of wild birds; a new method of the study and photography of birds. Birds; Photography of birds. Fig. 83. King-fisher nine days old, showing feather tubes and tracts- except on one occasion wlien I saw the bird turn near the entrance, and slioot out head first. The longest visit recorded lasted three and a half minutes. When a )(.ungster was encountered near the mouth of the tunnel he was driven back to the chamber, where the food was distributed. Once only did I see an old bird pause ^ â fc j. at the entrance for a hasty glance backward, and thus give a good profile view of hea
. The home life of wild birds; a new method of the study and photography of birds. Birds; Photography of birds. Fig. 83. King-fisher nine days old, showing feather tubes and tracts- except on one occasion wlien I saw the bird turn near the entrance, and slioot out head first. The longest visit recorded lasted three and a half minutes. When a )(.ungster was encountered near the mouth of the tunnel he was driven back to the chamber, where the food was distributed. Once only did I see an old bird pause ^ â fc j. at the entrance for a hasty glance backward, and thus give a good profile view of head with fish in bill. Unfor- tunately the plate had already been exposed, and before it could be changed, the oppor- tunity was lost. The old bu'ds, however, must have often turned about at the entrance on both entering and leaving the hole, as shown by the deep furrows plowed by the bill at either side of the opening. When the young are ten days old, the feather tubes have begun to burst at the tips, and their horny substance is gradually shed in the form of powdery scales. The feathers grow slowly, but at the age of two weeks the characteristic colors of the adult are becom- ing apparent,âthe slaty-blue of the upper parts, and the white of the breast which is traversed by a bluish-brown belt, with rusty brown along the sides. As they rattle when taken from the nest their whole body quavers. They will hiss, bite one another, hud- dle together, and erect their crests of long stiff feathers. They attain to full plumage or nearly so when three weeks old, at which time their bright fresh colors and docile natures make them most attractive. They can fly but little, and show no fear. At this stage their habitual expression suo-oests a peculiar sardonic grin. On the fourth of August I took these birds home in a basket, when twentv-five da\'s. Fig. 84. At thirteen days : many of the feather tubes burst. The blue- black, white-tipped wing-quills project half an inch. Notice that these
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, booksubjectbirds, bookyear1901
