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We have in England instances in the kingfisher, some woodpeckers, the jay, magpie, crow, and many small dull- coloured birds, such as the hedge-warbler or kitty-wren. But the similarity in plumage between the young and the old is never complete, and graduates away into dissimilarity. Jerdon, 'Birds of India, vol. i. pp. 222, 228. Audubon, 'Ornith.
A partial exception, however, is offered by the young of certain woodpeckers, for they have "the whole upper part of the head tinged with red," which afterwards either decreases into a mere circular red line in the adults of both sexes, or quite disappears in the adult females. Audubon, 'Ornith. Biography, vol. i. p. 193. Macgillivray, 'History of British Birds, vol. iii. p. 85.
If the lady is thus cloistered as closely as in the most jealous harem, her lord and master at least expends on her the most attentive cares. Bernstein, "Ueber Nester und Eier einiger Javaschen Vögel," Cabani's Journ. f. Ornith., 1859. What can be the object of this strange custom? It has been asserted that during incubation the female loses her feathers and becomes unable to fly.
And, with reference to the period at which the power of reproduction is gained, it is a remarkable fact that various birds occasionally breed whilst retaining their immature plumage. I have noticed the following cases in Audubon's 'Ornith. Blyth informs me that certain herons apparently are dimorphic, for white and coloured individuals of the same age may be observed. Blyth and Mr.
In regard to thrushes, shrikes, and woodpeckers, see Mr. Blyth, in Charlesworth's 'Mag. of Nat. Hist. vol. i. 1837, p. 304; also footnote to his translation of Cuvier's 'Regne Animal, p. 159. I give the case of Loxia on Mr. Blyth's information. On thrushes, see also Audubon, 'Ornith. Biog. vol. ii. p. 195.
The cases in the present class, though occurring in various groups, are not numerous; yet it seems the most natural thing that the young should at first somewhat resemble the adults of the same sex, and gradually become more and more like them. Blyth, that the young of both sexes can be distinguished by this character even as nestlings. Audubon, 'Ornith. Mr.
See also Burmeister, "Ueber die Eier und Nester einiger brasilianischen Vögel," Cabani's Journal für Ornith., 1853, pp. 161-177. Masons working in association. Ants have already furnished us with numerous proofs of their intelligence and their prodigious industry. So remote from Man from the anatomical point of view, they are of all animals those whose psychic faculties bring them nearest to him.
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