File:The bird, its form and function (1906) (14755723065).jpg

Identifier: birditsformfunct07beeb (find matches)
Title: The bird, its form and function
Year: 1906 (1900s)
Authors: Beebe, William, 1877-1962
Subjects: Birds Birds
Publisher: New York : Henry Holt
Contributing Library: Internet Archive
Digitizing Sponsor: Internet Archive

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hrough and cracked, and thechick rolls out into the world, weak and helpless and fora while absolutely dependent upon warmth and the careof its mother, before it is fit for its future life. (Figs. 18and 19.) Thus do all wild birds begin life, passing throughsimilar phases within the egg; and although we so oftenadmire a nest full of eggs, yet how seldom do we givethought to the tiny creatures within,—their hearts evenat that very minute, perhaps, giving their first flutteringbeat! The instant that its eyes have cleared and its shakylegs have gained strength to support its body, the chickbegins to use its senses and to store up experiences, takingnote of this sound and that taste, learning to fear or toignore, to flee or to pursue, to call or to remain silent.And thus does the brain of the chick and of all wild nestlingsbegin to act and its psychological life commences, withintermingled perceptions, instincts, and gleams of intelli-gence. Here belong the making of nests and journeys,
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482 The Bird courtship and songs, the rearing of young birds, the avoid-ing of enemies, the selection of food and suitable haunts,and, lastly, the encountering and overcoming of dangers,—new and wide-spread,—which are now affecting the environ-ment of every creature of this world. Of greater impor-tance than ever before is this adaptation to new con-ditions; since man and his traps and his guns have comeupon the scene, upsetting all the world-old order ofNature and slowly, surely, claiming the whole earth forhimself. May the naturalists of to-day realize their opportunityand do their best to preserve to us and to posterity whatis left to us of wild life! If not, let us pity the Nature-lover of two hundred years hence! APPENDIX A FEW EXCELLENT BOOKS RELATING DIRECTLY ORINDIRECTLY TO ORNITHOLOGY EVOLUTION Origin of Species. Charles Darwin. Appleton & Co., New York.From the Greeks to Darwin. Henry Fairfield Osborn. Macmillan Co., New York.Organic Evolution. M. M. Metcalf. Macmill

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