File:Aunt May's bird talks (1900) (14749972454).jpg

Identifier: auntmaysbirdtalk00poyn (find matches)
Title: Aunt May's bird talks
Year: 1900 (1900s)
Authors: Poyntz, F. M., Mrs. (from old catalog)
Subjects: Birds
Publisher: Boston, New York (etc.) Educational publishing company
Contributing Library: The Library of Congress
Digitizing Sponsor: The Library of Congress

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ment, andonly rises occasionally to change the positionof the eggs. Why, you say? I told you shewas a wise little mother; she knows that theeggs which lie directly under her breast arewarmer than those near the edge of the nest,since they are protected only by the tail andwing feathers ; so she moves the warmer onesout and the cooler ones in, and after a timechanges them again, so that they are kept justas near the same temperature as possible, andgenerally hatch at the same time. 11 The eggs of different birds are very unlikein color. God is very good to His weecreatures, and has made this very difference toprotect them. As a rule, birds which buildtheir nests out of sight in dark places, orwhere they are secure, lay eggs of a light 14 AUNT MAYS BIRD TALKS. color—blue, green or white. Birds nesting inthe tree-tops usually lay green eggs; near thecolor of the leaves, you see, which keeps themfrom being readily discovered by robber birds— for I am sorry to say that even dear little
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birds do not always treat each other well —or seen by cats or any other invaders of theirlittle homes. Then again, the eggs of a bird nesting onthe ground will be found of a brownish color, AUNT MAYS feIRV> TALKS. 15 as also those laid near shingles or stones; thisis only one of the countless instances in whichwe are called upon to reverence the wise pro-visions of Mother Nature. After waiting about eighteen days, themother will be rewarded by hearing a faint1 pip, pip within the shell, and a day or twolater the little bird presses its beak into theshell, and by pushing its body against thisopening, lifts the top. The poor little scrawnythings at first sight seem all neck and mouth,for you know a bird has a very long neck,which seems out of all proportion to its bodybefore the feathers come. This neck caneasily be turned in any direction. Have younot noticed how readily your Canary puts hishead under his wing when he feels sleepy, orpicks at the little oil sacs under his feathers

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