File:Birds and nature (1906) (14772170993).jpg

Identifier: birdsnature31906chic (find matches)
Title: Birds and nature
Year: 1900 (1900s)
Authors:
Subjects: Birds Natural history
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : A.W. Mumford, Publisher
Contributing Library: Smithsonian Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Biodiversity Heritage Library

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ans, the mute swan. The mute swans are of which they caught four, taking two natives of Europe and some portions of them alive to Batavia. The facts of Asia, and in winter they also enter ascertained were communicated to the northern Africa. It is said that in na- Royal Society in October, 1698, and ture the nests of the Black Swans are were printed in its Philosophical Trans- often a mass of aquatic plants two or actions. Later, other investigators more feet in height and six or more feet found that the range of the Black Swans in diameter. The period of incubation included nearly the whole of Australia lasts about five or six weeks. In nature and that they were very abundant in when danger is imminent, these Swans many localities. They are said to be try to save themselves, whenever it is much less common now and may become possible by swimming rather than by extinct as a wild species. But because flying, for they are birds of heavy flight,of their beauty and their attractive ap- 86
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FROM COL. CHI. ACAD. SCIENCES 134 BLACK SWAN. (Cygnus atratus). H Life-size. COPYRIGHT 1900, BY A. W. MUMFORD, CHICAGO ADAPTATION IN BIRD ANATOMY Adaptation is a principle that runs lusty swimmers they have large leg through all nature. There is no fact muscles instead. more prominent. It is natures response Turning to other parts of the bird an to demand, her answer to necessity, abundance of material for our subject The large muscle of the blacksmith ; will be found. Just as we are enabled to the calloused hand of the laborer and the read on the face of an individual quite coiled tendrils of the vine, are very fa- accurately the story of his inner life, so miliar examples. But nowhere is the is there expressed—if we will but read— principle more conspicuous than in in the modifications of the several parts bird anatomy. Birds are .so sensitively of the bird, his habits, character and organized, and respond so readily to en- environment. If his birdship would vironment, that the

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